Gain The Whole World

Toby Mac: Lose My Soul

Good people usually don't mind lending a hand to others. They don't generally want to take an opportunity that will harm others. When you think of gaining the world but losing a soul, it's the usual tropes that come to mind; A "deal with the devil," or dirty politics, dirty business practices, a sacrifice of ethics for progress, the kinds of things we see in movies.

But what about regular, real people? Those examples don't really connect, do they? Christ spoke about this, and he was speaking to regular folks with the kinds of priorities that they held. Their farms, their jobs, even their survival in some cases.

Aramaic Bible In Plain English (Generally, a more accurate translation where it counts most. Check out our links and you might figure out why later)

Mark 8:34-36
And Yeshua called the crowds with his disciples, and he said to them, "Whoever is willing to come after me, let him renounce himself* and take up his cross and let him come after me. Whoever desires to save his soul will lose it. Everyone who will lose his life for me and for my gospel will save it. For how is a man benefited if he should gain the whole world and he should lose his soul?"

Keep reading, I'll wait. ;)

Matthew 16:26
"For what does a person benefit if he gains the whole world and lacks his soul? Or what will a person give to regain his soul? For The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with the Holy Angels and then he will repay each man according to his works."

So I have to ask, what are you working on? Bills? Family? Friends? Worldly goals? Think hard about it. Some might be thinking they will be able to handle higher goals when these common priorities are settled and secure. Don't kid yourself, worldly values will never be secure. Billionaires are never rich enough. If what you do doesn't serve to bring the Kingdom or prepare the world for it now, it isn't blessed. If you work to serve yourself, you will lose everything. If you work to serve our Father in Heaven in accordance with what His holy messengers have conveyed, you will sacrifice as with all great investments, but you will not regret the result, and you won't be mortified in shame when you stand before the Throne for Judgement.