Gaining the World, Losing Your Soul
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
Jesus said these words. All His words are true. As God the Son, “…his understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5) Jesus is also the kindest person who ever lived. No one ever loved people more than Jesus. Our verse has three statements Jesus made. Two are direct, the third implied.
The first is a rhetorical question: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” The obvious answer is nothing. If you gain the world but lose your soul, you’ve gained nothing. Wealth and power in and of themselves are not wrong. Some people are savvy with money and become wealthy. Some are in positions of power. Yet Jesus warned us that earthly gains of any kind cannot help you if you lose your soul for eternity.
The second statement is also a rhetorical question: “or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus could have asked the question this way: “What would you be willing to pay to get to heaven and not hell for eternity?” No doubt many would be willing to pay millions, but we’ll look at that point in more detail momentarily.
The third point is that you CAN be sure of going to heaven. What if someone in the crowd had heard Jesus give this warning, then asked Him, “Lord, how can I be sure I don’t lose my soul?” and Jesus said, “Well, you can’t know for sure.” That wouldn’t make sense! Why would Jesus warn us not to lose our souls, then not tell us HOW not to lose our souls? If that were true, we would have to spend our lives dominated by fear, walking on pins and needles, hoping we don’t lose our souls.
Jesus did not come to play games with people’s lives and souls. Playing games with people’s lives is cruel. Playing games with people’s eternal souls is cruelty at its worst. Jesus didn’t come to earth to do that. He didn’t come to earth to be “…despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:” (Isaiah 53:3) so He could play games with people’s souls. He didn’t suffer the most brutal, gory, humiliating death in history so He could play games with people’s souls.
Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus’ motive for all He did was love. He came to give us eternal life freely, as well as fellowship with Him, joy, and purpose in this life. That said, let’s go back to the second statement.
You CAN be sure of going to heaven, but you must realize a home in heaven cannot be bought or earned. It’s a gift and must be received as such. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God [boldface added] is [not might be, but IS] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) You give gifts to people you love. You don’t want them back nor do you ask for anything in return. Gifts can also be costly, but you’re willing to pay the price because you love the recipient.
Eternal life is also a gift. God gives it to us because He loves us. God doesn’t charge us for it, and once we have it, we have it forever. It’s also very valuable. It cost Jesus His life, but He paid the price because He loves us. Yet a gift must also be received. If someone is offered a gift but turns it down, he doesn’t have it. The worst thing you could do is to turn down God’s gift of eternal life.
Do you want to see how to have God’s gift of eternal life by receiving Jesus as Saviour? Please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 3/4/2022
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822