September 5, 2019
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Matthew 16:26, For what profit, is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above context we understand that, for people who are only seeking their profit will find themselves most sadly mistaken for of what advantage will it be to such a man. Some possess all that is precious, valuable and all power, pleasures and riches. Like Alexander the great, conqueror and king Solomon who possessed great wealth. In the above passage Jesus is trying to explain the relative values of our physical lives and what we can humanly accomplish to what awaits us after life. What profit has a man from all his labour in which he toils under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth abides forever.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Bible says, Man who is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away. He flees like a shadow and does not continue. The days of our lives are seventy years and if by reason of strength they are eighty years. Yet their boast is only labour and sorrow for it is soon cut off and we fly away. All flesh is grass and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers the flower fades, but the word of our God stands for ever.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, The physical life we would live now is like a bowl of lentils, compared to eternal life. It is nothing more than a vapour, a breath a shadow. The passing pleasures, and cares of the world, will only gratify and satisfy the immediate desires. If our only interest is the immediate gratification that the world has to offer, then we would be like Easu who despised his birthright for a bowl of stew. Paul tells Timothy that Godliness with contentment is great gain and that instead of possessions we should be pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. The inevitable result of doing this will be wonderful blessings and eternal life. Jesus describes about how an individual had a hunger to gain the world and all it could give him. But because he could not control that hunger he lost his eternal life. My Dear Brothers and Sisters, What is your choice? Are you running after this world that is destined to perish or, do you run for the prize of the upward calling of God. Think wisely and live a qualitative life. May God help you to run the race of the Christian life to win the prize. To receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Prayer:
Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank you for showing us that we need to run the race set before us carefully. Teach us not to set our mind on the things of this world but to set our mind on things above. Help us to seek the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. May we long after salvation and eternal life rather than the things of this world. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
