What profit is you earn the world but lose God in the process.

 **"What Profit?"**  

*A Meditation on Mark 8:36*  

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### **The Great Exchange**  

> *"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"* (Mark 8:36)  

**1. The Illusion of Success Without God**  

- **Like Esau**, who traded his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:32). Temporary appetite, eternal loss.  

- **Like the Rich Fool**, who stored earthly treasures but was bankrupt before God (Luke 12:20).  

**2. The Vanity of Earthly Gain**  

- Solomon had *everything*—wealth, power, pleasure—yet declared: *"All is vanity and grasping for wind"* (Ecclesiastes 2:11).  

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

**3. The Eternal Math**  

- Earth’s riches **rust** (Matthew 6:19).  

- Human praise **fades** (John 5:44).  

- But knowing God is **eternal profit** (John 17:3).  

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### **What Does It Mean to "Lose God"?**  

1. **Choosing Creation Over the Creator** (Romans 1:25)  

   - Idols aren’t just statues—they’re anything we value *more* than Him.  

2. **Neglecting the "One Thing Needed"** (Luke 10:42)  

   - Like Martha, distracted by *doing* while missing *being* with Christ.  

3. **Hearing But Not Obeying** (Matthew 7:26)  

   - Calling Him "Lord" but building life on sand.  

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### **The Counterfeit vs. The Real**  

| **The World Offers** | **God Gives** |  

|----------------------|--------------|  

| Temporary wealth | Eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:4) |  

| Shallow popularity | Unshakable identity (John 1:12) |  

| Fleeting pleasure | Fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11) |  

| Empty achievements | Crown of life (James 1:12) |  

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### **A Prayer of Reorientation**  

> *Lord,  

> Forgive me for chasing shadows  

> When You are the Substance,  

> For trading gold for glitter,  

> Your presence for pennies.  

>  

> Strip me of false treasures.  

> Break the spell of "more."  

> Fix my eyes on the *Pearl of Great Price* (Matthew 13:46)—  

> Christ alone, forever enough.  

> Amen.*  

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**Scriptures for Reflection:**  

- Matthew 6:33 (*"Seek first the Kingdom"*)  

- Philippians 3:7–8 (*Paul’s "rubbish" list*)  

- 1 John 2:15–17 (*The world is passing away*)  

- Revelation 3:17–18 (*Buy true gold from Christ*)  

> *"You were made for God. Nothing less will satisfy.  

> Nothing more is needed."* — Augustine