“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?” (v. 25)?
Jesus reminds me that I need to focus on what is most important. Amidst all the competing goods of our world, there is one thing that is greater. I recognize my perspective may be swayed by my role as a pastor, yet I also share this as a parent.
Our society is filled with a bunch of competing goods, hopes and dreams we have for our children, that place many demands on our children. There are a plethora of team sport options as well as individual discipline sports and activities. There are many avenues to journey on with the promise of good education, good job opportunities, and college scholarships. Yet Jesus calls us to think about what is more important than these goods.
Many youth athletic programs and individual activities require multiple practices per week, travel for tournaments and performances, and camps and coaches that promise positive results for our children. Children compete in academic circles and for scholarships that require more time, more test preparation, more extracurricular activities and clubs. The amount of time and money we can spend on all of these good things is unlimited.
We can, in our attempts to provide a good future for our children, spend so much time and money and energy on these things that we run out of time and energy in our lives to focus on what matters most.
If my child earns a college scholarship but doesnt know Jesus, what have I really gained? If my child plays on the HS team, a college team, or even becomes a professional athlete, but doesnt know Jesus, what have we really gained? If my child sings or plays an instrument at Carnegie Hall, performs on Broadway, or even makes the Olympics, but doesn’t know Jesus, what is gained?
As my children get older and the pressure from all of these potential good things grows, I pray I can stay focused on what matters most, and I pray you do as well.