Gain The World

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?"

Mark 8:36

Gain the whole world, eh? Hmph. Sounds sort of appealing at a glance. I mean. the whole world is a pretty big place. That's a lot to gain. It'd be an achievement to speak of for sure. But what actually is the whole world? I'd kind of like to know what it is I'm committing to before I try to attain it.

Is it land? Does it speak of geographic location? All the lands in the world! Man, that would be something! Imagine owning everything from purple mountains majesty to the dry, windy Sahara desert to the frozen tundra of the North to the mystical and magical underworld of the ocean to every tulip bulb in Dutchland! We're talking the world here, folks. From one pole to the other, from Asia back around to Asia. That's impressive. . .Gee whiz, that sounds like a high maintenance attainment though, doesn't it? I'd need a lot of knowledge to keep up with all that. I mean, I love the outdoors as much as the next guy but I couldn't even grow tomatoes last year! Mountains are great but ecological systems are complicated. I don't know what the proper hunting seasons should be? Should I restrict its usage or make it open to everybody? Then there's the oceans. I have never been able to keep even a goldfish alive, let alone an entire world of sea creatures. And we haven't even seen the bottom of them! How would I clean the tank? And I hate bulb flowers; they take way too much planning. No, I don't think I want lands.

What about wealth? Money, riches, clothes, jewels, stuffs? I could spend as much money as I want, whenever I want on whatever I want. No more budgeting for clothes, rent, food, utilities, gas. Of course, some of it would go to help those less fortunate, which, I guess if I had all the wealth, would sort of take in everybody. Gosh, that would spread out pretty fast, huh? You know, shopping actually makes me kind of stressed out. I'm not fashionable at all so money would be useless there. And I kind of like the feeling of working hard to pay for the things I need/want. There is a certain amount of satisfaction that goes along with that. Besides, I've often heard that the presence of money is more disturbing than the lack of it. No, I don't think I want that either.

Well, what about fame? Notoriety? Position? I could be known wherever I go. The media would be begging me for interviews, I'd always have front row seats, anything I wanted, acceptance, approval, influence. I've never been one to be in the limelight though. I'm much better at being a backstage hand. It's actually what I enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy an accolade every now and then, but only if it's sincere. What would I be known for anyway? I don't really have any outstanding talents. You know, the media is a pretty fickle lot; they'd crucify me at the first sign of political incorrectness, and that's bound to happen fairly soon. Front row seats give me a neck ache. The approval of the populace is easily swayed by the fleeting whims of change. Fame could quickly turn into infamy. No, I think I'll pass on that one too.

Paul says, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I suffer the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Phil. 3:7-11)

Gain the whole world, eh? Hmph. Sounds sort of appealing at first glance. But nah, I'll pass. You can have the whole world. Just give me Jesus.

Application: Today I will hold this world a little looser in my thoughts and attitudes and when we do our next town run, I will buy the one thing that I need.