Many are concerned when they are gaining weight, but are pleased when they lose a few pounds. Many are proud when they gain the advantage, but are depressed when they lose their edge. Most are concerned when their blood pressure gains a few points, but sigh in relief when they drop a few numbers. Investors are delighted when the Dow Jones average gains a few points, but panic when the bottom drops out of the market. Apparently gaining and losing can be both good and bad, depending on the way we want things to go. But sometimes we have no choice in their direction.
Jesus once asked, in Mark 8:36, 37, "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?" If the question indicates nothing else, it indicates the value of one's soul. Yet men and women by the thousands are striving, laboring, and struggling to get a new car, a better house, big screen TV, boat, cottage on the lake, fancy clothes and jewelry, and the latest exotic video games for the kids, without giving one moment's thought to the destiny of their soul. Is this a portrait of your priorities? Then let me paraphrase Jesus' question: what will it profit you if you gain all these things, and more, and lose your soul? What will it profit you if you have all these things to enjoy here and your soul suffers the agony of God's judgment in eternal torment?
Christians are sometimes pitied for having to "give up" so much: sinful pleasures, ill-gotten gain, lustful pursuits and notoriety. The "gain" of some of these things includes shame, disease, prison time, grief and ultimately eternal damnation. Which of them would you "give in exchange" for your soul? The apostle Paul puts this discussion in perspective in Philippians 3:7-11: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things . . . that I may win Christ, And be found in him . . . by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, . . . If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."
The apostle had it all but he counted it loss. He gave it all for his own soul and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was delivered from sin and death. He will be in the promised resurrection of the saved. Now what if you gain it all? Will you hold on to it at all cost? Is your earthly gain worth the loss of your eternal soul?