“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but
whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone
to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in
exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s
glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what
they have done.” Matthew 16:25-27
Jesus is speaking very specifically about living for
yourself and acquiring the things of this world. If that’s your sole motivation in life than
He is saying you will lose your life and
your soul in exchange for things that will rot and turn to dust. Just as Esau willingly gave up his birthright
to his brother Jacob for a bowl of pottage*, so too, many give up their true
calling as sons of God to pursue temporal endeavors. They forfeit their very soul for monetary
gain as if it could purchase their entrance into heaven.
Our Lord is making a point by saying that he who surrenders
himself to the will of God and lives for Him alone shall receive untold rewards
which cannot be found on this earth.
Heavenly rewards do not involve money or fame or power or
notoriety. Heavenly rewards involve
crowns of glory for what we’ve done for others in the name of the Lord and what
we’ve done to further the kingdom of God on earth.
Having money, even lots of money, isn’t a sin. How we acquire
it and how we use it tell the
story. Do we acquire wealth honestly to
provide for our families and others in need or do we acquire wealth to live in
lavish comfort, forgetting about all else?
And what of our soul?
The exchange rate is too lofty for us to achieve. We cannot save ourselves. Those who live according to the will of God
for their lives will see heaven. None of
us is perfect and never will be this side of heaven and our Heavenly Father
knows this. He is patient with us and
gives each of us ample opportunity to get this thing right. Be ever mindful of where your focus must be –
squarely on the Lord. Until next time,
walk with the King and be a blessing!
*Genesis 25:19-34 (The story of Jacob &
Esau.)
