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?
In Matthew 16:26, Jesus showed the folly of focusing one’s life on earthly pursuits while disregarding God.
The writer of Ecclesiastes is one whose life demonstrates this principle. He sought pleasure through earthly wisdom, hobbies, possessions, fame, prestige, and the like (Ecc. 1:16-2:10). After gaining all of this, he called it “vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecc. 2:11).
Much of the things he sought after were not wrong in themselves, but they were prioritized wrongly. Many live today with similar misplaced priorities.
Understanding what lies after our brief time on earth should encourage us to focus foremost on being right with God (see Heb. 9:27; 2 Pet. 3:10-12).
Our life on earth is likened to “a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away” (Jas. 4:14). The chief thing each of us can do is to please God and thus prepare for what comes after our brief time on earth. May we remember Jesus’ words, and choose the eternally profitable path of obeying God.
– Michael Hickox