What Good Does it Profit a Man…..?

“I have known some of the wealthiest men on this continent intimately, also some of the leading scientists and professional people. Despite their dazzling outward show of success, despite their affluence and their prestige, they remained poor in spirit, shriveled in soul, and unhappy in life. They were joyless people held in the iron grip and heartless ownership of the wrong master.

“By way of contrast, I have numerous friends among relatively poor people-people who have known hardship, disaster and the struggle to stay afloat financially. But because they belong to Christ and have recognized Him as Lord and Master of their lives, their owner and manager, they are permeated by a deep, quiet, settled peace that is beautiful to behold.

“It is indeed a delight to visit some of these humble homes where men and women are rich in spirit, generous in heart and large of soul. They radiate a serene confidence and quiet joy that surmounts all the tragedies of their time. They are under God’s care and they know it. They have entrusted themselves to Christ’s control and found contentment.” Source: Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, p. 17

……………………………………………………………………………………………

One way in which those with a true heart for God can avoid the material entrapment of the world is by remembering the gospel of Jesus Christ, that is to say, what Christ has achieved for them. Through Christ and his substitutionary work for those that put their trust in him alone for eternal life, believers have been transformed from a people of this world to a people that are of the world to come. Thus, the entire Christian life is to be lived from the perspective that believers are born from above, that they are being fitted for a life to be lived above, in the age to come. Therefore this is to be their greatest expectation and anticipation. We are a people who belong to the coming age and who will reign with our Lord Jesus Christ whose kingdom is not of this world, Jn 18:36. We cherish as our ultimate joy, according to our Lord’s promise, that which we are awaiting, the “heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Pe 3:13. Life in this world is similar to a long weekend a family that takes away from home– they enjoy it and make the most of it but they know that the time is coming when they will soon return home. As the song says, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through.” We are on a long weekend trip which will soon come to an end when we go on to “a new heaven and a new earth, … the holy city, [the] new Jerusalem.. ” Rev 21:1-2.

Therefore, we are to keep on remembering that, even now, the present world and its desires are passing away, but that those seeking to do the will of God, will abide forever, 1 Jn 2:17. We live in this world but we do not belong to it; we are not to be conformed to its standards, its way of thinking, its methods of operation, Rom 12:2. We are not to be swept away by its pleasures or be impressed by its wisdom, 1 Cor 2:6, for its wisdom is “.. earthly, unspiritual, demonic” Jas 3:15. No wonder for it is ruled by Satan, Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor 4: 4. “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 Jn 5:19.

As believers, we need to exercise great care and self- denial as is fitting disciples of Jesus Christ, Mk 8: 34. The apostle warns us that believers may become so entangled in the affairs of this world that they will experience significant hardship in living for Christ, 1 Cor 7:29-35. While living in this transient world, we are not to love it as Demas did and walked away from the faith, 2 Tim 4:10. Instead, we are to live “..godly lives in the present age,” Tit 2:12, avoiding the snares of the “present evil age” from which Christ and his redeeming work have delivered us, Gal 1:4.

Therefore, there is nothing in this world that can provide enduring satisfaction for our souls. Solomon had exerted all physical effort in order to find meaning and significance in life. According to his abbreviated testimony in Eccl 2:1-16, he sought laughter, v. 1; liquor, v. 3; labor, v. 4; he devised great landscapes, v. 5; he gathered laborers, v. 7a; he amassed great luxury and livestock, vv. 7b-8; he gave free rein to his lusts, “And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.” v. 10. But it was all meaningless, “.. behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” v. 11.

Beloved, do not think that you are above these admonitions that our Lord so lovingly gives us. Do not think that you are exempt from falling into the snares of the world, the flesh and the devil. Do not think that you can serve two masters, God and wealth. . Let us take heed of the words of our Master, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mk 8:36. Our soul is the most precious aspect of our being.

Therefore, let us cling to Christ and his gospel as our only hope in this life and in the life to come. Let us wholeheartedly seek our Lord Jesus Christ placing all our eggs in the safety of his basket which he jealously guards. It is Christ and Christ alone that is our eternal sufficiency.