Saturday, July 21, 2007

To Gain The Whole World

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





He does not possess wealth that allows it to possess him. Author: Benjamin Franklin

Are we blessed by God as the poor in spirit or do we pray to be blessed with wealth of this world of shifting sand?

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Luke 16:19-26

Matthew understood this more than anybody. He had a choice to make. To follow this man who he felt God was with or to hold on to life as a publican. Publican was a tax collector. Despised by other Jews because they collected taxes for the Romans. In exchange, they were rewarded handsomely by the Romans with social status as a class of equities. Equestrians were of upper social class in Roman society. Ranked among business men and Roman cavalry men, thus the modern reference to equerian and horses. Horses symbolizing power over other men. It was very profitable financially to the publican. He received interest off taxes collected and turned it in at the end of the collection period. The real money came with anything collected over the amount of taxes. This was pure profit to him. You can imagine the corruption that ensued in their dealings. Yet, Matthew faced a choice like we all do in life. As Jesus walked by, he made that choice. Giving up his old life of lavishness and ease that he had made at other's expense in order to go and follow this man. A man unlike any who had ever walked the earth before. In losing what he thought to himself was his whole world, he regained his soul back in return. In this moment, he received wealth beyond measure from God.

In the story of King Midas, he had a decison to make, too. He, at first, wanted to be even more wealthier than he was. So he wished for the power of gold. Everything touched, the Midas touch, turned to gold. So excited was he that he went about touching everything. Gold was everywhere. The time came to eat. And he had grown hungry. So he called his servants in to bring him his dinner. Being tired, he sit down to eat only to discover that the food he touched was transformed to gold. Now he could not even eat. All this gold and no way to feed himself. He started to panic and went to his daughter. She, the love of his life and most beautiful, came to him. In trying to console her father, he touched her. In an instant she was changed to gold as all the other things. Oh, how he weeped and howled for his loss. His pursuit of getting everything had cost him everything he really held dear. He thought back to the beautiful flower she had shown him. Telling him before had wonderful it smelled. And how with his touch had transformed it into pure gold. She had called it ugly. Saying you can't touch it and smell it like a real one. Only now staring at his loving, innocent daughter now a golden stature did he see how much it cost him. In the end, he was given the power to rid himself of the golden touch. Realizing it was a curse and not a blessing. Washing his hands in the river, it disappeared. And, thus, gathering water in a vase took it to his child. Pouring it on her restored her to life.

Every choice is a blessing or curse. Even as I read stories about those who find fortune instaneously or build wealth off the expense of others, how it corrupts their souls. Losing all they hold dear, even their very souls. May I never forget that anything I have accumulated is because of you, Jesus. And to always use it to help someone in need. May the Holy Spirit bless me with a generous heart. May He bless us all. So the Holy Spirit continues to try to guide an often stubborn soul on his search of God's truth. Leading me where I need go, not always where I want to go.
by

Lance Gargus
Books:Christianity,Bible,Jesus,Angels,Soul,God,
Holy Spirit,Doves,Love,Children,Heaven



17 comments:

Unknown said...

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kindgdom he promised those who love him? {James 2:5 NIV}

Be assured that I still covet too much of what is of this world. Oh, what a wretched man I still am.

Renae said...

Another great post, Lance. You never let us down. :-)

--r

Enemy of the Republic said...

Always good to read you, bro. Actually, this was one of the lessons God had to teach me and my husband, not that we were ever wealthy, but what money can do to people and in the skeme of things, it just doesn't matter even when we let our worries about it control our soul. True wealth is much different.

franx said...

Great Post Lance, It's true God is knowing. Remember "Man purpose God disposes"

Nina Nichols said...

Your post has never failed to offer enlightenment to my life.

More power, Lance...:)

Anonymous said...

Every choice is indeed a blessing. You draw reader attention to the power they have to inspire love and to recognize unconditional love within themselves and everyone. Some people believe that the soul is itself love.

S.A. said...

The stories from the bible are very rich with true learning’s and moral values, and you know well how to use them.
Take care my friend,
Sónia

IJ Hanna Lucky said...

Godbless you for this post as full of inspiartion as always.

Josiah said...

hey lance, i got a new post !

Anonymous said...

Wow...like your blog.. :D May God Always Bless You :D

(^_^) Nice

Anonymous said...

Your images are great, Lance!

I would also recommend (should you find that you even *want* to), using free stock photography: sxc.hu

Fare thee well,
Ginae!~

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance,

Nice very nice. I really enjoyed reading this.

I have something for you at my site!

Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby

Here & Beyond said...

Hi dear bro in Christ
You are right, Im still confuse, trying to believe as well.

I pray every day to God for my childrem and in the end I pray for myself asking strenght and enthusiasm. It is like Im in a line between glory or failure and if nothing strong happens at this time I will be like numb for so long. But Im trying and I need your prayers. I really want to wake up forever. Im so tired to be like this.

Thank you. You have a powerful light and it brings a relief to all those who come here.

Love in Christ, for you and your family

Taz

Here & Beyond said...

Hi dear bro in Christ

You are right, but Im trying. Im tired to be like this and I need your prayers. Im in a line between glory or failure and I hope God hear my prayers too.

Thank you. You have a powerful light who keeps all together and brings a relief to who come here too.

Love in Christ for you and your family

Taz

Here & Beyond said...

Hi dear bro in Christ

You are right, but Im trying. Im tired to be like this and I need your prayers. Im in a line between glory or failure and I hope God hear my prayers too.

Thank you. You have a powerful light who keeps all together and brings a relief to who come here too.

Love in Christ for you and your family

Taz

TOMAS said...

Thank you. Your post is inspirational indeed - that's the blessing. I need help at a moment tremendously. I need the repair of all my tools for work and living for participating further on in the sharing of the Light.
Your post reminds we are not left alone and that's one and only hope of the disabled.
God blesses you dear Lance.

Anonymous said...

Some people discover that losing everything actually means gaining everything. The power of love leads to life-transforming revelations. I added you to my blogroll. Your graphics are beautiful.

"The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul."

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