What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life? (Mk 8:36-37)
Can you be the most powerful person in the world? Yes.
Can you be the wealthiest person in the world? Yes.
Can you be the most successful person in the world? Yes.
Can you be the most influential person in the world? Yes.
Can any of that buy you eternal life with God?
I’m waiting for your answer.
Jesus shoots from the hip in today’s gospel when he reminds people that there is a vast difference between this world and the Kingdom. He was speaking to a people that did everything they could to get ahead in this life but forgot about caring for one another or following the laws of God.
As long as they had what they wanted, they felt they were all right.
But they won’t be all right. We won’t be all right — if we do things for ourselves rather than for the Lord. What good will it do us to achieve immediate happiness, fame, fortune, et cetera if we will be eternal unhappy away from God?
FAITH ACTION: Determine the areas of your life where you tend to live for yourself rather than for God. Do what you can to amend your ways.