Profits

Mt. 16:26

here is the Stock Exchange, and then there’s the Soul Exchange. I think there shall be heavy trading on both today. Profit can be seen as the differential between what something costs and what it is worth. For Webster it is the ratio of what is gained to what is invested. Jesus asked, “What is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.” Many are putting up their souls for collateral and that is a dangerous and risky business.

Nothing is worth risking your soul. Esau did not think much of his birthright. He sold it for a moment of culinary pleasure. When God said, “Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated,” I’m sure it has something to do with a man caring so little for his soul that he would consider trading it for a bowl of soup. No soup could be that good.

Yet many men, like Esau fail to appreciate the value of one when smelling the vapors steaming off the other. Many men feel about their souls as Esau did about his birthright. They often sell it cheap. “What good is this birthright to me,” he thought. Others think a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. There is pleasure in sin (says mortal man). Yes, but only for a season, says Moses.

A man once sold what he thought was a worthless piece of property, only to “kick” himself later when oil was discovered on it a few years later. He didn’t realize how much it was really worth. Sinners make a cursory survey of their souls and fail to appreciate its value. Jesus said, “what is a man profited if he gain the whole world” - Now there are some choice pieces of real estate in this world- What Jesus was saying, was that the most valued piece is not worth more than your soul. Ah, says someone- they are going to build a development and my parcel is worth so much- I shall sell it and make a “killing.” Perhaps, the only thing they killed was their hope of heaven.

Naboth refused to sell his vineyard. King Ahab wanted it, he coveted it, he dreamed of owning it. He made him an offer- he thought- he couldn’t refuse. Naboth refused to sell. His vineyard had been in his family for generations- “Some things,” he thought, were not for sale. Ahab, thought – everything was for sale. He thought everyman had his price. Naboth knew better.

More valuable than Naboth’s Vineyard is your eternal soul. Satan thinks your soul is for sale. Yes, there is a sense in which he holds title on everyone born in sin- that is in his domain. Yet somehow as if to sinisterly set the sinner in concrete- or as an affront to God- he gets men to sell themselves again. As if to say, “see, they choose me.”

Choose you this day, said Joshua. I believe, although already sold- (and condemned already) we have time to back out of the deal. You may not get your money back, but you can cut your losses. You need a good lawyer- You need an advocate, You need Jesus Christ. Though Satan lays claim, the blood of Jesus is still able to trump Satan’s triumph and set you free. Buy this truth and sell it not. (Prov. 23:23)