What Shall it Profit a Man...?

"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, 'He who glories let him glory in the LORD'” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). So, that is me: foolish, weak, base, and despised, but chosen. As far as the world is concerned, I rank among "the things which are not," but in God's presence, no flesh should glory. And I am of God in Christ who has become for me wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, and I live to give glory to the LORD, because without him I can do nothing. Whatever is in the Bible is the Word of God. That is where the truth will be found. Many, maybe even most people, have no interest in the truth, but if you do, that is where you will find it. If you need anything in this life that pertains to your spiritual condition, or your physical condition, your emotional condition, your mental condition, any condition that you are concerned with at any time, Jesus, the one we celebrate this season, is where you will find help. I have been very drawn to this particular passage of scripture for a very long time because the longer that I walk with God, the less interest I have in the things that the world wants me to be interested in. I love what Jesus said, the words that spoke to me from a sign inside a bus in Topeka when I was in elementary school, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" (Mark 8:36) I didn't understand them at the time but I have understood them again and again and they are the foundation on which I rest my heart and my soul, my present and my eternal security, the mercy of God, the love of God, the salvation of God. Having a relationship with him is all that really matters. Everything else proceeds from that. Some people don't like it when you decide to follow Jesus. Some people won't like you if you decide to follow Jesus. No matter what you do, they won't like you. So, if you need people to like you, that part might be tough for you. Nobody likes to be disliked or snubbed or blown off, disregarded, rejected, ignored, snubbed, or hated. You don't have to do anything to them and you can't do anything to please them. But it is not about you. It is Christ they abhor. Now if you are being hostile and rude and hateful and vengeful and cruel to people these words may not apply to you, and verses from Scripture will not shield you from His rebuke, and there is no excuse for anyone for ungodly behavior. But we should spend more time judging ourselves than judging others. This is a huge problem. Paul wrote, "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world" (I Corinthians 12:31-32). But Paul wrote (some people like to say "the writer of Hebrews," but I have always believed it was Paul), "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls" (Hebrews 12:3). There will be disappointments in the world as long as we are in it because the world is fallen, but in Christ, there is peace, and as much as many people like to resist the drawing of the Lord, there is really no lasting peace to be found anywhere else. And a final word about "problem people." This is a word of great encouragement: "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully, lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled..." (Hebrews 12:14-15). That temptation to let a root of bitterness spring up is like a venomous snake and is one to watch out for. That's like that sin that "lieth at your door." So, in conclusion, beware, and guard your heart. As King Solomon wrote, "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23)