LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”  Jesus

 

As we head into a new year, I want you to consider the questions above. I bet everyone who reads this will say no to the second question. However, there are many who will say yes to that question and that answer really takes care of the first question. Many of you are involved with the career of your choice or preparing for it. This page of the blog is a reminder to be sure you take the time to be alone with God. It is important to make a plan so you can find a quiet place to pray, read and meditate on God’s Word, to read other devotional material (with emphasis on this blog of course) that encourage and help you stay on the narrow way. This is necessary every day!

 

There is a reason to stay away from chasing success as the world defines it. Will fame and fortune bring the fulfillment one believes it will? Consider what must be given up in order to achieve this. Is it achieved at the expense of one’s spiritual life?

 

Let me give you an example of this. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to coach some really talented athletes; we won a lot of games and one year the team was recognized for their success as the second-best team in the state for all small schools. During that time few people knew how coaching started to consume my time. So much of my effort went into how I could make the players and the team better. God knew and He decided that it was time to make a change and I stopped coaching. It was a difficult time in some ways but it got me back on track to what was really important!

 

What is really important to you as far as life is concerned? I believe that each of us need to answer this question as we begin this new year. Every indication seems to be saying this could be a difficult year. If that is true, we need to be focused on what is important and eternal - not the unimportant and temporal things of the world. None of should be tricked into thinking we are defined by the “stuff” we have or the awards we receive or the things people think and say about us. In the end, each of us are defined by our heart for God.

 

The difficult part of these verse is the one who chooses to gain the world, loses his soul. That means this person chooses to spend eternity banished from God’s presence and to live in eternal torment. I know this is not encouraging to read; it is meant for you to consider the two choices before us. Let me say it another way. It is a choice to do your own thing and walk on the road that is wide and leads to destruction or to follow Jesus (or as my friend says – let Jesus drive the car) on the narrow way that leads to eternal life with Him in His kingdom.

 

I have found that walking on the narrow way is a choice every Believer needs to make. As a Believer we can live in this world living for ourselves. I ask you to take a look at your life, as I have had to do, and make sure you are submitting to God’s will and living for Him the way He desires. Tough lesson today! But it is important to consider!