Pursue the Kingdom
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36
Stuff! It seems like the whole world is after it. Constantly struggling to get more. More things, pleasures, power, and recognition. Today’s scripture asks the question, what value is it to gain the whole world? I want us to consider, what am I running after in this world? Is it things? Am I trying to accumulate enough things to make me as comfortable as possible in this life? Is my entire goal in life to work so I can have the things I want to have and do the things I want to do and go to the places I want to go? When I look at the people of history who have a name that has stood through the ages, the reason isn’t because of how much they accumulated in life or how comfortable they were able to make life while they were here. What stands the test of time is a life of self-sacrifice. The people who have made a difference in this world were people who lived their lives for others. Whether it was presidents, preachers, or people in the medical field, those who made a significant difference for the better were those who gave of themselves into the lives of others.
As I come to this part of my life, some of the things that I am recognizing is: 1. Life is short! 2. Only what’s done for the kingdom of heaven will last. 3. History is our teacher. There are many people in history that gained great wealth that we have never heard of since the day they died. Only those who contributed to others have built a lasting name. Yet, even that fades over time. The thing that will last for all eternity is being rich toward God. Living a life that exemplifies love, not just any love, but the love of God. It is not something that can be attained through wealth. Which, by the way, is great news because anyone can have it. It is only through God’s love that we can make our life count.
Most of us know that you cannot buy eternal life. It is a gift from God, yet so many of us are so focused on loading up our bank account instead of loading up our heavenly account. By turning everything we have over to God for the Kingdom of heaven’s expansion, we are storing up our treasure in heaven and not wasting it away here on earth.
Today, I encourage you to start being rich toward God in this world. Turn everything you have and are over to Him. Make a lasting difference in the world by committing to God your resources (time, abilities, words, and finances). Everywhere you go, let your relationship with God through Jesus be the light that shines through. When you enter a room, let it be God entering that place. Others will think of God when they see you because you do things differently than the rest of the world. Make your life count for all eternity by building God’s eternal Kingdom not your temporary dwelling place in this world.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 8:34-38
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
The Daily Dose 