What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Luke 9:25
Jesus had just predicted His suffering and death. As He is talking to the disciples He tells them that they must deny themselves and take up their cross. Now He tells them that a person can gain the whole world, but still lose His soul. If that happens it is of no value.
Everyday people all around the world go to work to make more money. There are many that will put in long, extra hours in order to purchase or own something that they desire.
People will go to college, earn a great degree so that they can make a lot of money, so that they do not have to work so hard. Then they get the job they desire and as the money starts to roll in, they work extra long over-time hours to get even more money for more stuff.
Others may not be working so hard for the fancy stuff, but are focused on working hard to get a large fancy retirement. Either way many of those people are working hard to gain something that does not last for eternity, all those things are only temporary. They are working for self and saving themselves in this world. They do not look to life after death.
As they work hard, many do not work on their own souls. They do not work for what lasts for eternity. A person can have everything there is in this world, but when he dies, he loses everything, including life, if he does not have a relationship with Jesus.
The things that last for eternity are not the physical things of this world, they are the souls of people. This includes all people including yourself.
As a believer, you must be willing to turn away from the temporary things of this earth, that are not important, and focus on what is eternal and of greatest importance.
It may be painful and a displeasure to turn selfish desires down now, but in the end God will reward you greatly for doing His work.
Release yourself into the hands of God and trust Him to meet your needs as you do His work. His work is of eternal importance. Gain Jesus and you gain eternity.
Gain this world and you get nothing in the end.
I pray today that you will seek what God has for you; that you will deny selfish desires and follow after God alone; that you will gain eternity in Jesus; and that you will trust God with your life and soul.
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