1309. A Divine Comparison of Values

A Divine Comparison of Values

"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?" (Mat_16:26).

There are many who place a very light valuation upon life. They think of it as no more than a passing jest or frolic, or at best, they think of it as only an opportunity for personal gain and achievement.

The Lord Jesus speaks of life as of far greater value.

1. What gaining the whole world would include. These are the things that are "in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1Jn_2:16). To gain the whole world would mean to obtain everything that the eyes, or the flesh, or the pride of life desires.

The nearest reach to thus gaining the world fell to Solomon. He said, "And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy" (Ecc_2:10).

Alexander the Great, is reckoned among men as one who conquered the world, yet we often hear that he died unhappy and unsatisfied, wishing that there were more worlds to conquer.

Was Solomon satisfied? No. He, himself wrote: "Therefore I hated life" (Ecc_2:17). Alexander the Great died in a drunken debauch, in misery and in shame. Solomon cried: "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, * * all is vanity" (Ecc_1:2).

"They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil" (1Ti_6:9-10). Why will men sell their souls for the world?

"And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world" and the glory of them; the Lord Jesus quickly said, "Get thee behind Me, satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" (Luk_4:5, Luk_4:8).

Who else is ready to say to satan, "Get thee hence"? Let the man of God count all things but loss that he may win Christ; let him flee the things of the world, and follow after righteousness, truth and Godliness.

Let the man of God trust not in uncertain riches; but let him lay up in store for himself a goodly foundation against the time to come.

2. What gaining the whole world will cost–the losing of the soul. The things of the world are transient, they pass away. The things of God are eternal, they abide forever. Why should we sell our soul, and its possible eternal heritage, for a beautiful "stage scenery" that is doomed to decay?

Let us consider this from a cold, business viewpoint; let us take our scales and weigh values–does it pay to gain the world and lose the life?

Moses, when he came to years, put all the treasures of Egypt, all her pleasures, all her honor on. one side of the balances. On the other side, he put the reproaches of Christ, His sufferings with the children of God, the rewards of the age to come; he watched the balances, and then he chose Christ.

Paul placed on one side of the scales, the things which were gain to him–his seat in the Sanhedrin; his honor as a respected Jew; his high standing because of his birth and heritage. On the other side, Paul placed knowing Christ, suffering with Christ, and the hope of his high calling; he watched the scales, and then he chose Christ.

Surely everyone who reads these words, if he stops to think, will not sell his life for a mess of pottage.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR