To Gain the Whole World
Reading Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21
Text:- Matt 16:26 “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul.”
During his life on earth Jesus was continually warning people of the danger of their souls.
He had little to say concerning the dangers of the body. Even though he was talking real live men and women. As he does today.
“Fear not those who kill the body” he warned “But rather fear those who will kill the soul.”
The warning is needed today as much as it was then.
There are physical dangers all about us, there everywhere.
Illustration
A man found himself in the centre of intersecting streets, Looking up he saw a motor car approaching from one direction, a Tram from another, a team of horses from another and a motor cycle from the forth. He was in danger in all four directions. Lifting his eyes heavenward, he saw an aeroplane falling towards him from the sky.
With no other hope of escape, he pulled the cover from a manhole in the street and dropped through — to be run over by a subway train.
But as many as are the dangers to the body, they are not so grave as the dangers to the soul.
- WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MODERN DANGERS OF THE SOUL?
One is that we may become so busy we have little or no time for God.
Story :- There is a legend God sent an angel to a busy man of the world to urge him to give more of his time to the study of the Bible.
“T haven't time to read the Bible,” was the curt reply.
A Second time the messenger came urging him to come to public worship
“T haven't time to go to church,” was the answer. A third time the messenger came, and this time it was the angel of death.
“I haven't time to go with you was the reply.”
“Ah,” said the messenger, “But this in one invitation that you have no choice but to accept. When I come you have to go.”
As fanciful as the legend is, its truth is fundamental.
However important our tasks, however far they are from completion, they are left just as they were when the unwelcome visitor arrived.
A visitor at an asylum saw a man busily engaged in drawing a needle through a piece of material. There was no knot on the end of the thread.
“Crazy!” is the verdict of the world in such a case.
But what about the people who spend their time their every hour on the temporary, perishing things of time. Selling goods — raising crops — building and paying off houses- investing money and a million other things, but forgetting God.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with these things. But the priority you give them.
- ANOTHER DANGER TO THE SOUL IS THAT SEEKING THE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE, WE MAY LOSE THE BEST.
The old proverb is true that “the good is often the enemy of the best.”
It is true in the things of this world.
It is necessary for people in the modern to keep abreast with the modern world events.
Newspapers — TV — journals — but when he neglects spending time with the family and God because he is too busy.
He is losing a great opportunity when he is so busy keeping up with the world news that he neglects the study of scripture. It is a good thing for a person to give of their wealth to the promotion of the work of God's kingdom in the world.
But it is infinitely better for him to give his life to Christ, saying, as did Isaiah “Here I am, send me.”
It is a good thing for a person to devote their talents and time to business or law or literature etc, but if they devote all their talents and all their time to these and neglect their own soul and the souls of others they are like that man drawing that thread through that cloth, but there is no knot in the end. In doing that which is necessary they have left undone the most momentous thing in their whole career.
- THE THIRD DANGER TO THE SOUL TODAY IS THAT IN LIVING FOR TIME WE NEGLECT TO LIFE FOR ETERNITY.
Yet many live as though this life were all there is. Eat drink be merry for tomorrow you die.
Jesus said to this attitude “Thou fool, today your soul is required of you.”
We invest in 800d insurance Policies, (Good); We take out large retirement policies (good); We have nice homes (good); We need a Car, a boat, caravan (Good); We must have 4 200d job to provide all this plus more (OK).
But what about your insurance for your soul and your families souls?
Read Romans 12: there's bread for Godly living
Without food the body dies, without the Word of God, the soul dies.