Friday, December 18, 2009

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Along life's ROAD For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? St. Mark 8:36 Former Finance Minister of State and Governor of The Central Bank of the Bahamas, James Smith, in a recent press statement, accused some Bahamian companies of knowingly receiving huge profits at the expense of unsuspecting consumers. Bringing all things into account, many times items purchased abroad at the given price are bloated to bursting proportions just for profit. When we look at those who faithfully support these businesses, those who give all and get nothing, the neighborhood does not benefit; education, health and housings projects get nothing, then it is like the words of our text today – you gain the whole world but you lose your soul. There are many across this global village who have done extremely well in amassing untold wealth, but at the end of life's journey, nothing was 'laid up in store' for the life eternal. Then those who are left behind to inherit spend years legally quarreling over who is to get the lion's share, even though 'written' instructions were left. "Dad was out for lunch" when he wrote this, they argue. I told someone the other day that I was never a person to 'hustle.' I am not going to knock myself out of the park for a dollar. Don't look for me to run after every ponzi scheme that I hear about because it seems that many are out just to rip another off. While money is needed, I am ever so happy how God provides for my needs without me becoming a spiritual beggar at the 'gates of the financial flowing fountains.' Yes, I do believe that if we 'ask, we will receive,' but don't make it a habit or a career. In this eighth chapter of Mark, Jesus has compassion for the multitude who have had nothing to eat for many days. "If I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: For divers of them came from far." Blessing seven loaves of bread and a few fishes, He was able to feed some 4,000 people. This did not go down well with the Pharisees who "began to question Him, seeking of Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him." Sighing deeply in His spirit Jesus asks them "Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, there shall no sign be given unto this generation." He then departs to the other side and gives a charge to His disciples "take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod." It was a wonderful experience for the blind man at Bethsaida to be healed of his blindness by Jesus, and thence it was at the towns of Caesarea and Philippi that Jesus posed a public relations question to His disciples. "Whom do men say that I am? While some gave various answers, Peter was the one to declare that "Thou art the Christ." So it is that Jesus, in speaking to the multitude and His disciples, tells them that "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul: Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" What is it that you are battering with at the expense of your soul? Are you like Esau who would exchange an entire inheritance just for a bowl of porridge? Or like Jack with a pot of gold for colored beans? What is it that you are grieving about as you read, because you gave up what you had for what you thought was green grass only to find out that it was artificial turf? Many have given up training up their children in the way they should go for nights out on the town and allegiance to some 'fancy Jack or Jackie.' Now they live on Regret Avenue. How many have listened to foolish advice and now have neither friend nor foe, just loneliness? How many have spent their earnings on wine, women and song and now sit in a chair that is rocking but going nowhere? How many have had millions of dollars and did not advance the cause of anyone or a charitable organization, let alone bring an offering to the Church and now want The Church to hold high mass for you? You have lived for many decades in this life and are now nearing the end of the road, attended every church service, sung many a hymns and chanted the loudest, but never thought to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, and now you want to jump the line into heaven. Or you are saying that I am young and don't have time to think about that which I see as far fetched? If I were you, I wouldn't let that be my measuring stick for my salvation. I am not saying that you must not receive a profit from your business, enjoy the niceties of this life, drive a fancy car, possess a bank book with funds saved, look and eat good and own a beautiful home, but just keep in mind that all these things sooner or later will not matter when it comes time for you to leave. You will leave as much as you have. So why own a bank full and have a bankrupt soul that does not have sufficient cash for life eternal? Yes, 'For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Like they say when asked a question in an interview "That's a good question." The answer my friend, is up to you and you alone. E-mail me with your Prayer Requests, comments, concerns: rubyanndarling@yahoo.com or write: P.O. Box 19725 SS, Nassau, Bahamas. God's Blessings! Thursday, November 19, 2009