“Will it pay?”
“What’s there in it?”
“What’s it worth?”
“What will it yield?”
Common, everyday questions on common, everyday matters. With pencil and paper—or calculator or computer—we work out the answers. But when we are confronted with profit or loss for eternity, the answer can only be found in the Word of God—the Bible. It says plainly that we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:7.)
What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Matthew 16:26.)
Several years ago a very rich woman was so fond of money that she could hardly be persuaded to pay her debts. For weeks before her death, this woman kept a glass full of gold coins constantly on a table beside her bed. Until her sight was gone her eyes were always focussed on these coins. But the summons came at last; her soul was required of her, and she had to go.
What did her glittering coins profit her then? Simply nothing! What did she lose by having her heart set on money as her idol and object in life? If she lost the Saviour of sinners, she lost her own soul also.
How truly does God say, The love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10.)
Satan uses many ways besides the love of money to keep souls from being saved. He tries to hinder in every possible way the light of God’s good news about the crucified and risen Lord from reaching hearts, but this wonderful gospel light is always shining, just as the sun in the heavens is always shining, though its direct rays may sometimes be obstructed by clouds.
The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ . . . should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4.)
For many years, well-meaning Saul of Tarsus was kept from the Saviour by religion. Religion? Yes, but it was a religion without Christ, and Saul’s heart was in darkness all the time. Afterward, when light from heaven had reached him and the Saviour had drawn him to Himself, he said, What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (Philippians 3:7.)
Whether it is a right thing, in itself, or a wrong thing that is hindering you, if you have not the Lord Jesus Christ as your soul’s satisfying object, you are being shut out from the enjoyment of the heavenly sunshine and one of Satan’s clouds is overshadowing your soul.
Only through Christ may you secure everlasting gain and escape everlasting loss.
It is written: Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9.)