What other Scriptures emphasize the value of the soul over material wealth? The Core Question “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Echoes in Parallel Gospels • Mark 8:36-37 – “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” • Luke 9:25 – “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Jesus’ Parables that Drive It Home • Luke 12:16-21, the rich fool – v20 “‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’” – v21 “So is he who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” • Luke 16:19-31, the rich man and Lazarus – v25 “‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things… now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.’” Storing Treasure in Heaven • Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” • Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot serve both God and money.” • Luke 12:33-34 – “Provide yourselves with purses that will not grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Words from the Apostles • 1 Timothy 6:7-10 – “We brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out… The love of money is the root of all kinds of evils.” • 1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “Command those who are rich… to put their hope in God… that they may take hold of what is truly life.” • Philippians 3:7-8 – “Whatever was gain to me I now consider loss… I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ.” • James 4:13-14 – “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Wisdom from Psalms and Proverbs • Psalm 49:7-8,15 – “No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God—for the redemption of his soul is costly… But God will redeem my soul from Sheol.” • Proverbs 11:4 – “Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” • Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “He who loves money is never satisfied by money… This too is futile.” A Wake-Up Call from Revelation • Revelation 3:17-18 – “You say, ‘I am rich…’ but you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich…” Living It Out Today • Remember that possessions are temporary; the soul is eternal. • Measure success by faithfulness to Christ, not by accumulation. • Redirect resources toward eternal purposes—generosity, ministry, mercy. • Keep an eternal perspective: every earthly choice shapes an unending future. |
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