There is no point to own the world but lose God in the process.

 You're referencing **Matthew 16:26** (also Mark 8:36), where Jesus delivers one of the most piercing questions in Scripture:  

> *"What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"*  

### 🔥 **The Stark Truth in This Verse**  

1. **The Illusion of "Gaining the World"**  

   - Wealth, power, fame, and success are **temporary currencies**—they cannot buy eternal life (Luke 12:20).  

   - Even if you achieve *everything* (like Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:1–11), without God, it’s *"meaningless, a chasing after the wind."*  

2. **The Eternal Trade-Off**  

   - To "forfeit your soul" (Greek: *zemioō* = suffer loss) means to **exchange the eternal for the temporary**.  

   - Example: Judas gained 30 pieces of silver but lost his soul (Matthew 27:3–5).  

3. **No Backup Plan**  

   - Jesus asks: *"What can you give in exchange for your soul?"* Answer: **Nothing**. No wealth, achievement, or plea bargains can redeem a lost soul. Only Christ’s blood (1 Peter 1:18–19).  

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### 💡 **Why This Warning Matters Today**  

- **In a Culture of Hustle**: We’re tempted to sacrifice health, relationships, and integrity for success. Jesus says: *"You are worth more than this"* (Matthew 6:26).  

- **In a World of Distractions**: Entertainment, politics, or even "good" things can become soul-numbing idols if they replace God (1 John 5:21).  

- **For the Weary Achiever**: If you’ve climbed the ladder but feel empty, Jesus’ words are your lifeline.  

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### ✝️ **The Antidote: Lose to Gain**  

Jesus flips the script in the very next verse (Matthew 16:24–25):  

> *"Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."*  

- **Lose** → Your self-driven agenda, sinful patterns, reliance on materialism.  

- **Gain** → *"The unsearchable riches of Christ"* (Ephesians 3:8), eternal life, and the *"peace that surpasses understanding"* (Philippians 4:7).  

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### 🌿 **A Prayer of Surrender**  

*"Lord, expose where I’m chasing ‘the world’ at the cost of my soul.  

Break my addiction to temporary things.  

Help me live for what lasts—Your Kingdom, Your righteousness, Your glory.  

I trade my striving for Your rest, my emptiness for Your fullness.  

Amen."*  

This verse isn’t just a warning—it’s an invitation to *true life*. The world’s offers will fade; Christ’s gifts endure forever.