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“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and
forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?”
Matthew 16:26
Would you like to “gain the whole world?” Many people daydream
about becoming exceptionally rich and being able to purchase
everything they ever wanted. Others dream of doing heroic acts that
thrust them into the public spotlight and lead to public
admiration. Still, others dream of having great power in this world
and being a person of great importance. Though none of these are
bad in and of themselves, the inordinate desire for them will
damage your relationship with God. And when one of these desires
becomes the dominant and all-consuming desire within, the result is
that you forfeit your eternal soul.
When we speak of the “world,” we can understand different things.
First, this is a reference to all the material things of this
world—for example, the best of food and drink, self-indulgence,
fleshly pleasures, material wealth, and all that is temporary and
passing in this life. Second, the “world” can refer to pride and
desire for attention and praise. This is when we become consumed
with concern about what others think and say about us. Third, the
“world” can refer to the desire for power so as to insert our own
will. At a very high level, this is often the cause of wars among
countries. One leader has a desire for domination and control. This
desire for power and control can also affect each person within any
part of that person’s life, including family, friends, work, social
circles, etc.
The common thread among all three of these examples of worldly
desires is the deception that obtaining more of them will satisfy
you. Though they may satisfy you in a temporal and passing way,
these desires will also have the effect of destroying your soul.
This is because we have to choose. Either we seek to satiate the
spiritual yearning of our souls, or we will seek to satiate
ourselves with the passing promises of the world. We cannot have
both.
It should be noted that obtaining wealth, being publicly praised,
or being put in a position of power is not evil in and of itself.
In fact, any one of these offers potential for good. The problem
arises when a person seeks one of these worldly desires for selfish
reasons and under the delusion that it will provide fulfillment.
Truth be told, any one of those situations imposes a true cross on
the person who is seeking to serve God alone. The responsibility
that comes with wealth, prestige, or power is real. Therefore, when
one or more of these are obtained, they must be handled with
detachment and humility.
For example, if one becomes quite wealthy, the precept to live
spiritually detached from material things still remains. Thus, in
this case, material wealth poses a certain burden in the form of
temptation. While this temptation certainly can be overcome and
wealth can be used for good, the danger is real and must be
regularly acknowledged. Or, if you are praised by many for
something you did, or if you are given much responsibility and
authority over others, humility and detachment must also increase
so that God and God alone remains the single object of your
desire.
Reflect, today, upon your desires. What do you want in life? Do you
want to “gain the whole world?” Do you desire to gain even some of
the worldly ambitions? If so, be careful. Reflect honestly upon
your interior desires and work to purify them so that you desire
God’s will alone. Once that happens, it will not matter to you if
you are rich or poor, publicly praised or criticized, entrusted
with earthly power or not. All that will matter is that you use all
for the glory of God, in accord with His perfect and fulfilling
will.
Most glorious God, Your will is perfect and is the one and only
source of fulfillment in life. Please purify my soul of all desires
pertaining only to this world. May my one and only desire in life
be the fulfillment of Your holy will so that all I have will only
be used for Your glory. Jesus, I trust in You.
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