“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)

In Mark 8:36–37 Jesus asked two penetrating questions: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” These rhetorical questions make a powerful point. Who in his right mind would not exchange what is temporary for what is eternal? Many seek pleasure, fame, and fortune. Not only is fulfillment elusive, but worldly possessions are ultimately worthless after one dies. Many seek position and power, but what gain is there in having control and status only to lose relationships and the satisfaction simplicity brings? A self-centered life is hollow and empty, operating in a context of scarcity and stress. In contrast, an others-oriented life operates in a paradigm of gratitude, generosity, and abundance. What one plants in this temporal world, one harvests in the next. Serving leaders who give up everything for Christ gain everything in the end. 

KEY QUESTIONS: What would it look like for me to gain the whole world? How might I be selling my soul through current pursuits? In what areas of my life do I have a scarcity mindset rather than one of abundance? What can I do today to practice gratitude and generosity?