What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? - Mark 8:31-38.
The hit song, "Can't Buy Me Love" was released by the Beatles in 1964. The song was written by Paul McCartney. When asked what the song means, McCartney expressed that one can place any interpretation to it. He further stated, "The idea behind it was that all these material possessions are very well, but they won't buy me what I really want."
Worldly possessions are good, but the most important thing that we want or need, cannot be had through worldly possessions. Muammar Gaddafi was a very wealthy man, yet at the end, his money was no good to him. It did not save his life.
Yes, money can buy many material things in this life, but it cannot buy the most important thing - everlasting life. In your getting, keep the cross of Jesus Christ in focus.
A pastor was once on his way to visit a parishioner when he encountered another person going to visit the same parishioner. The gentleman was about to step aside and let the pastor go ahead of him. However, the pastor suggested that he go first since he was there first. The gentleman, an insurance underwriter, said, "You go first. What you have is for life."
He was right. The pastor carried insurance for life after death. Life insurance underwriter carried insurance for this life. The person whose life it covered did not even get to enjoy it. The gift of salvation is for life and the person covered enjoys the benefit.
We are often tempted to reach for the world. Satan encourages us to gain all that we can. He entices, "The world ours to claim."
The above text is Jesus' response to Peter following Peter's attempt to chide him for talking about his eminent suffering and death at Jerusalem. Satan had enlisted Peter to tempt Jesus and entice him with earthly things.
Peter and the other disciples were focused on earthly things as apposed to heavenly things. They were expecting Jesus to set an earthly kingdom, with them at the helm.
Satan, having failed to tempt Jesus during his 40-day sojourn in the desert, thought this a most opportune time to play on Jesus' emotions and get him to abandon his earthly mission. He decided to use Peter to accomplish his objective.
Satan does the same thing to you and to me. He uses whatever means that is convenient for him. He tells us that we need a little more money. We need more power. We need to work a little harder.
Therefore, we forsake our God, our families, and the church in order to acquire more of the world. Satan tells us, if we are to succeed, we must forsake all and move hurriedly. But by the time we achieve the world, our family and health are gone. We have gained the whole world, but what do we really have?
Wealth and fame are no good to us once our health is gone. They cannot get us the most important things that we need. They cannot buy love. They cannot buy good health. And most definitely, they cannot buy our way into eternal life.
Therefore, what is the use of having all the money and power in the world if they cannot buy the things that really count? Mind you, Jesus is not saying that we should not enjoy a good life or become rich. God gives the things of this world to us to enjoy. Our wealth comes from Him. He is saying that we should not allow ourselves to be consumed by life's transient treasures. In our getting, keep the cross in focus.
Without Jesus in our life, we are nothing. We have nothing. Amen.

oRev. Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at The Lutheran Church of Nassau, can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas or telephone: 323-4107; E-mail: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com; Website: www.Nassaulutheranchurch.org.

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