This well-known phrase comes from the words of Jesus in the Gospels, where He cautions against pursuing worldly things at the expense of one’s soul. But what exactly does it mean?
To “gain the whole world” speaks of attaining all that the world has to offer – wealth, fame, power, pleasure, success. The idea is that even if someone could gain the entire world and all it contains, it would be meaningless without caring for their eternal soul.
The “soul” here refers to the spiritual part of a person that lives on past physical death. It’s the part of us that will stand before God one day. So even if someone gains everything in this temporary life yet neglects their soul, they’ve really lost everything in the end.
This phrase is a warning not to be consumed by materialism, greed, and superficial achievement. Even billionaires one day die and can’t take their wealth with them. Those who strive for worldly gain above all else will end up losing what matters most – their relationship with God.
1. The Temptations of the World
What are some of the “gains of the world” that Jesus warns against? Here are a few:
- Wealth and possessions
- Power, influence, fame
- Status and success
- Pleasure, comfort, thrills
The temptations and distractions of the world are endless. From material goods to experiences to accolades, the world constantly offers us things to pursue. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with responsible enjoyment of God’s gifts. But danger comes when we elevate these things over God.
Our careers, bank accounts, social media followers, and bucket list adventures must never eclipse the priority of caring for our souls. When we get our love of worldly things out of order, that’s when we risk “gaining the whole world but losing our souls.”
2. The Emptiness of Worldly Gain
Why does a focus on worldly gain ultimately leave us empty? Here are a few reasons:
- Worldly things don’t satisfy – they always leave us wanting more.
- Worldly achievements are fleeting – fame and success quickly fade.
- We can’t take worldly things with us – they vanish at death.
- Worldly pursuits often lead us to moral compromise.
- Worldly things don’t address our deeper spiritual needs.
Those who have “gained the world” can testify to the unfulfilled longings in their souls. Fame leaves them feeling isolated. Fortune leaves them feeling greedy. Pleasure leaves them feeling purposeless. In the end, even the “best” the world offers proves to be temporary, shallow, and unfulfilling.
Augustine summed it up well: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” We were created to know and love God. No amount of worldly gain can satisfy that innate longing in our hearts. When we try to fill that God-shaped void with other things, we’ll always end up empty.
3. Caring for Our Souls
So what does it look like to properly care for our souls instead of chasing worldly gain? Here are a few key principles:
- Nurturing our relationship with God – Through prayer, Bible study, worship, obedience, relying on the Spirit.
- Pursuing spiritual disciplines – Like simplicity, fasting, solitude, meditation.
- Investing in things of eternal value – Like people, the church, the spread of the Gospel.
- Anchoring our identity in Christ – Not our stuff, achievements, popularity.
- Seeking first God’s kingdom – Making His priorities our priorities.
The health of our soul is far more important than what we gain in this world. When we treasure our relationship with God, make His glory our supreme goal, and invest in His eternal Kingdom – that’s how we avoid losing our souls.
4. Counting the Cost
Why do so many people turn from God to pursue fleeting worldly things? Jesus said the road to life is hard, while the road to destruction is easy (Matthew 7:13-14). Living for this world means catering to our natural appetites.
But following Jesus requires self-denial and swimming against the cultural tide. It means forsaking pride, refusing to compromise, enduring hardship, and any number of counter-cultural stances. Counting the cost of discipleship is sobering.
This is why wealth proves such a hindrance to many. As Jesus said, it’s very hard for the rich to enter God’s kingdom (Matthew 19:23-24). When we already have comfortable lives, it’s tempting to avoid upsetting the apple cart. The fear of losing worldly things leads people to cling tightly to them.
But just as Jesus asked the rich young ruler to give up his possessions, so He may ask us to relinquish anything competing for our allegiance. Clinging too tightly to the things of this world can cost us the life of our souls.
5. Living for What Lasts
Thankfully, not everything in this world is evil. God has filled life with good gifts for us to enjoy. What matters most is where our heart is placed. As Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
To avoid gaining the world but losing our souls, we must treasure God above all rivals. We must find our greatest joy in His salvation and live to further His purposes.
This world and everything in it will one day pass away. But the investments we make in our relationship with God will echo into eternity. Our souls will live on forever, either blessed in His presence or cursed in separation. In light of eternity, the only life worth living is one anchored in pursuing God’s Kingdom.
May we take Jesus’ words to heart. May the Holy Spirit give us an eternal perspective to see through the hollow temptations of the world. And may God help us live each day with wisdom, investing ourselves in what lasts.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them…The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15,17)
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
“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?” (Matthew 16:26 KJV)
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17)
“For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:7-8)
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5)
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?'” (Matthew 16:24-26)
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
“Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” (C.T. Studd)
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
“As long as we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” (2 Corinthians 5:4)
