Kevin Rutherford

Jesus said, "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 (Matthew 16:26)?" This is the lesson the world must learn. This is the lesson some Christians should have learned. If we do not live a life of service to God we have wasted our lives, no matter what else we may have accomplished (Matthew 6:33; Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14).

If a race car driver wins more races and more championships than anyone else and yet loses his own soul, what is he profited? If a baseball player breaks the homerun record and plays on a World Series Championship team, but looses his own soul, what is he profited? If a basketball player breaks all of Michael Jordon’s records and wins several titles, but looses his own soul, what is he profited? If a football player gains a Super-bowl championship ring, but looses his own soul, what is he profited?

If someone stars in numerous movies and wins all kinds of acting awards, but looses their soul, what good has it done them? If a singer becomes the next "American Idol," and goes on to produce more number one records than anyone else in the history of popular music, but loses their soul, what good has it done them? If a person becomes the president of the United States of America and serves his country well, but loses his own soul, what has he profited?

What we so often forget is that we are all going to die (Hebrews 9:27). We also seem to loose sight of the fact that life is very short (James 4:14). Fame and fortune do not last. One cannot take either of those with him into eternity. What one can take with him into eternity is his soul. If he faithfully serves the Lord all the days of his life he will be in heaven someday (Matthew 25:34). The rest doesn’t matter. The rest counts for nothing.

Jesus said, "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 (Matthew 16:26)?"