“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)

As a people, we all want to be accepted in this world. We all want to fit into some class or social group. When we are not accepted by our peers, we take whatever measure necessary so that others may take notice, even if it goes against our morals or teachings as children. We choose careers in life that we think would be a fulfillment for us and would fit us into that social group we so desperately want to be a part of. We try to fill our lives with the riches of this world and all of its materialistic things. We just want to be a part of something and to be accepted.

But, while we are so caught up trying to be happy and accepted in this life, our soul is destitute and impoverished.

In Luke 12:15-21, Jesus speaks the parable of the rich fool. In this parable the rich man had no place to store all his fruits. All of his barns were too small, so he decided to build greater ones. The problem with this rich fool was that he had an “I” problem; he only considered laying up treasures for himself. Because of his covetousness and greed, his soul was condemned. And so is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.

We should not take glory in the things of this world. Neither should we love the world or the things that are in the world. We should glory in knowing God (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Why would we spend our whole life seeking the riches and influence of the world? Do we not understand that our life is “even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).

What is there in this perverse, crooked, and sinful world that you would profit from? What gain is there that is worth more than your eternal soul? It would do us good to take the things of this world, which we will leave behind when we die, and weigh them against what we can store up in heaven and have for all eternity.

There is pleasure in sin for a season, but the debt of sin is forever.

What is your soul worth?