Most people like their stuff. We want to do a bunch of fun things with our stuff. One thing about our belongings is we can lose them. Losing your things is not fun. Have you ever lost something? Have you ever lost a wallet, keys, jewelry, or a phone? I have lost some of those items. I am sure you have probably lost something, too. I do not know about you, but I hate losing my things. I hate it even though I know it happens to everybody.
I lost a precious item recently. I was not pleased when I figured out I lost my wallet while at a friend’s house. My chief concern was the wallet never being found. There are several “good” places around their home where a wallet could be lost. I had a few concerns a stranger might steal my wallet. However, I had no concerns my friends would take from me. I thank God I have friends like that. Anyway, they quickly found my wallet once I told them it was not with me. The relief I felt was an incredibly good feeling.
Jesus was concerned about lost things. Throughout Christ’s ministry, he says he came to seek and save that which was lost. Passages such as Luke 19:10 and Matthew 18:11 teach this beautiful truth.
Christ was concerned about the spiritual state of people. Jesus says in Mark 8:36-37: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?” Jesus was concerned for our souls to the point that He gave His life for us. Without Christ’s blood, there would be nothing to seek beyond this life.
As Christians, how concerned are we about the souls of people? Many people seek to gain the whole world. They often run us over trying to obtain it. It can be very tempting to let them seek those empty pursuits. However, we know what will happen if a person is not covered by Christ’s blood on the Day of Judgment. Those people will lose everything and only find eternal anguish far beyond anything you can experience on Earth.
As Christians, we are commanded to seek the lost (Matthew 28:19-20). If we do not try to do this to the best of our ability, we fail. Knowing the terrible fate of the lost, seriously ask yourself these questions. Hopefully, these questions will help us see where our priorities are. Am I more concerned with people seeing how great I am or about how amazing Jesus is? Am I more concerned about getting someone’s prestigious acceptance or are am I seeking to show them what God expects? Am I striving to hear someone say “great job” or my Lord say “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Nothing is more important than getting your soul to heaven. The second most important thing is helping other souls get there as well. Are we living in a way that demonstrates a lost wallet is the worst thing that could happen or that someone losing their soul is the ultimate catastrophe?