One of my favorite game shows is ‘Deal or No Deal.’ The
show’s appeal lies in the contestants’ propensity for high-risk taking. The
lure of making a deal to exchange what is sure for what is unsure is often
mind-boggling. But it is triggered by an insatiable appetite for more. The risk
lies in the fact that the trade is made without knowing the value of what’s in
the contestant’s possession, coupled with uncertainty about what will happen
next.
The tragedy of the game is that people have suffered painful
losses because of terrible decisions. One of the largest losses ever was
$300,000 on May 21st, 2007, when a guaranteed offer of $305,000 was rejected
and later reduced to $ 5,000. The regret of that decision was sure to last for
a very long time.
Many people are miscalculating the value of their own soul,
their life, in comparison with things of this earthly life, whether it’s money,
fame, prosperity, a relationship with someone, pleasure, a job, and the list goes on. And the tragic part is that this
miscalculation is causing irreversible, devastating consequences.
Jesus asked two sobering and serious questions in Matthew
16:26:
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?
These
questions imply that a
comparison is being made between things of value – the whole world and one’s
soul. However, the conclusion is obvious: our soul is invaluable, and
nothing is worth more. So, making a decision that doesn’t consider or reflect
this value is tragic.
It’s easy to be influenced by the world’s value system,
which places great value on money, status, pleasure, and fame. We see how these
things influence the treatment we receive from others. And so we make decisions
accordingly because we want to benefit now.
But what if our decisions are based on an inaccurate value
system? One where we have assigned the wrong value to things compared to our souls.
The result is an unfortunate outcome where we are left
giving up what was valuable for things that had little to no value in the end.
Be assured that nothing can exceed the value of your soul. So make decisions with this truth in mind. You cannot afford to miscalculate on this assessment.