Matthew 16:26 – “For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Just what is it in this life that really matters? Is it how much wealth we can accumulate? Or
how popular we can become? Or is it how much good we can do for our fellow man?
Is it seeing our name up in lights and gaining the praise of man? Alexander the
Great conquered the world and then wept because there were no more worlds to conquer.
Is that what really matters? By what standard do we measure a man’s success in
this life?
Jesus Himself gives us the answer in these verses. He tells His disciples in the verses just
prior, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Self-denial is the
first step to success. We must totally empty ourselves of self. That means putting our own desires and will
aside and acceding to the desires of others. This will lead to being filled
with the Spirit. Secondly, we must identify ourselves with Christ by not only
accepting His finished work at Calvary , but
also by self-sacrifice. That’s how we
take up our cross. Thirdly, we must
daily and whole-heartedly follow Christ.
We do this by living for Him, trusting in Him, walking in Him, and doing
His will.
The
Measure Of A Man
So often when we look around at what a
man has done
To see what legacy he leaves when his
race on earth is run.
What worlds did he conquer here? What empires did he build?
What worldly goods did he possess? What coffers has he filled?
But should we look at worldly things to
judge a man’s true worth?
Those things are only temporal. They bring a fading mirth.
For when the final tally’s made are
those the things that count?
Or is there something weightier – a
heavenly account?
Those are the cares to which we should
consistently attend –
The ones on which the fates of our
eternal souls depend.
For not one dime of earthly goods can we
from this life take.
For what will it mean in our next life
if President we make?
For what shall it profit any of us if we
gain the entire world,
Or if the praises and honors of men upon
our heads are hurled,
If we should lose the only thing we have
in our control
That lasts for all eternity – and that’s
our very soul?
The choice belongs to every man that
ever walked on earth –
The choice of that which gauges what a
man is truly worth.
For though we all by worldly sins are
constantly enticed,
Our destiny shall rise or fall on what
we do with Christ.
The Bible tells us plain and clear that
in Him we must trust,
And true repentance from our sins will
truly make us just.
For if to heaven we would go, we must
accept God’s plan,
And this is how we should regard the
measure of a man.
© 2006 Paul Stultz
