The Bottom Line
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36
On a recent delightful family vacation, the landlady of the cottage we were renting, eagerly told us about a beautiful house next door by the lake. She told us how much of the property had been in her family, and a few years ago “a rich American couple” bought that house. Apparently they had put in a lot of effort and money to make it beautiful. She extolled the virtue of that elegant dining room that seated twenty four people, and then she told us the tragedy. "Within a year the man had died and never got to really enjoy this beautiful place", she said. At this moment she paused, and as if trying to conceptualize this whole story in one sweep of philosophical sentiment, she said, “Tells you something doesn’t it! Life is short. You might as well enjoy it while you can.” Her statement reminded me of a billboard I had noticed at the beginning of spring that was taking advantage of the urges that only those of us who live in six months of cold weather would understand. It read “Life is short, boats are cool!” Buy one today! I am convinced that all of our philosophy of life, whether we think about it in those terms or not, is wrapped up in this question of the bottom line1 of life – How long is our life? How we answer that question of the economics of life is how we will live life.
Jesus was keenly aware of this, and as He was approaching the cross, He urged His disciples to ponder this question of the bottom line of life. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?” How long is life? If your outlook is that life is short, then of course it will profit a man everything to gain the whole world. The bottom line then is the satisfaction of all that is possible in a short time. The end of life that is unknown and can come suddenly means we do all we can, accumulate all we can, as fast as we can. But if life is eternal, then we have a different bottom line. It is the salvation of the soul! I think there is hardly a voice left in business, political or religious sphere that has not reminded us that we must always “take the long view of things”. We have often regretted decisions because we did not think ahead. "Vision" is a buzz word in all circles. I think Jesus is telling us to make that view even longer, He is asking us to get a vision of the “eternal view” of life.
Friend, may I ask you to consider what is the bottom line of your life? Have you given it a “short view”. Have you neglected your soul? Will you look to the One who saw the eternal value of your soul and did not flinch from the Cross, but gave Himself willingly that you may have life? I invite you today to submit your life to the One who can save your soul. His name is Jesus. He purchased it with His own life on the Cross, and He offers you Life that you may have it more abundantly.
Danesh Manik
1. I borrow that term “bottom line” in this context from the address given by Frank Hanna, CEO of HBR Capital Ltd. , at the Acton University titled, “ The Desire to Do Well and to Do Good: The Necessary Harmony Between Creativity and Virtue.”
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
On a recent delightful family vacation, the landlady of the cottage we were renting, eagerly told us about a beautiful house next door by the lake. She told us how much of the property had been in her family, and a few years ago “a rich American couple” bought that house. Apparently they had put in a lot of effort and money to make it beautiful. She extolled the virtue of that elegant dining room that seated twenty four people, and then she told us the tragedy. "Within a year the man had died and never got to really enjoy this beautiful place", she said. At this moment she paused, and as if trying to conceptualize this whole story in one sweep of philosophical sentiment, she said, “Tells you something doesn’t it! Life is short. You might as well enjoy it while you can.” Her statement reminded me of a billboard I had noticed at the beginning of spring that was taking advantage of the urges that only those of us who live in six months of cold weather would understand. It read “Life is short, boats are cool!” Buy one today! I am convinced that all of our philosophy of life, whether we think about it in those terms or not, is wrapped up in this question of the bottom line1 of life – How long is our life? How we answer that question of the economics of life is how we will live life.
Jesus was keenly aware of this, and as He was approaching the cross, He urged His disciples to ponder this question of the bottom line of life. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?” How long is life? If your outlook is that life is short, then of course it will profit a man everything to gain the whole world. The bottom line then is the satisfaction of all that is possible in a short time. The end of life that is unknown and can come suddenly means we do all we can, accumulate all we can, as fast as we can. But if life is eternal, then we have a different bottom line. It is the salvation of the soul! I think there is hardly a voice left in business, political or religious sphere that has not reminded us that we must always “take the long view of things”. We have often regretted decisions because we did not think ahead. "Vision" is a buzz word in all circles. I think Jesus is telling us to make that view even longer, He is asking us to get a vision of the “eternal view” of life.
Friend, may I ask you to consider what is the bottom line of your life? Have you given it a “short view”. Have you neglected your soul? Will you look to the One who saw the eternal value of your soul and did not flinch from the Cross, but gave Himself willingly that you may have life? I invite you today to submit your life to the One who can save your soul. His name is Jesus. He purchased it with His own life on the Cross, and He offers you Life that you may have it more abundantly.
Danesh Manik
1. I borrow that term “bottom line” in this context from the address given by Frank Hanna, CEO of HBR Capital Ltd. , at the Acton University titled, “ The Desire to Do Well and to Do Good: The Necessary Harmony Between Creativity and Virtue.”
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
posted by Danesh Manik | 12:40 PM
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