Monday, March 10, 2008

 

How Will They Know Series

 

Matthew 16:26: "What does it profit...to gain the whole world and lose your own soul?"

 

The Priceless Soul

In 814 A.D. the powerful Roman emperor Charlemagne made an unusual request with regard to his burial. Legend has it he asked to be buried sitting upright on his throne with his crown on his head, his scepter in his hand, his royal cape draped around his shoulders and with an open book placed on his lap.

Several hundred years after the death of Charlemagne, Frederick Barbarossa wanted to see if Charlemagne's burial requests had indeed been carried out. He ordered that the tomb be opened. They found the body just as Charlemagne had requested. Only now, nearly two centuries later, the scene was gruesome. The crown was tilted on the skeletal head. The scepter was tarnished. The mantle was moth-eaten. The body was disfigured.

But, there, on his lap was the book Charlemagne had requested-the Bible!! And one bony finger pointed to Matthew 16:26: "What does it profit...to gain the whole world and lose your own soul?"

 

It is so easy for us to sacrifice who we are for things that don’t matter.   Recently, a successful man who is a friend from another city called.  He said, “Chip, I feel dirty every time I leave work.”  He is very successful in his business and is a strong Christian.  But he said, “the ethics of my workplace are challenging and frankly, unchristian.  The owner of the firm I work for practices things that are wrong.   He hides personal expenses in the expense of the company.   He cheats his customers and lies to his employees.” 

 

I asked the man, “Why don’t you quit?  Why don’t you find another job?   He said, “I always wanted to teach high school but I could not do it now.”  I asked him why and he said, “We would have to sell our house and the beach house.  We wouldn’t be able to be members of the Country Club and I want to buy my son a BMW when he turns 16.”  

 

I said to him, “What difference do all those things make if you sacrifice yourself and your integrity to get them?   What is the price of feeling dirty every day of your life?”  I heard in his voice that he was dismissing me because he would not give up the riches of his earthly life to gain the integrity that he was truly searching for.

 

We all face the possibility of “losing our soul to gain the whole world.”  Today I challenge myself and you to not sacrifice what is imperative for cheap and tawdry tinsel.  Charlemagne knew it and my friend on the phone knew it.  The crowns, scepters, and robes of this life are not worth the price if we lose our soul entertaining them.  

 

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to keep my soul in the myriad of choices in life.  Amen.