Matthew 16:26 - The Most Expensive Thing You Will Ever Buy

Matthew 16:26

"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?

Let me ask you an uncomfortable question:  What if you finally got everything you ever wanted… and it still wasn’t worth it?

Jesus put it this way:  “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

— Matthew 16:26a

That’s not just a religious line. That’s a financial warning, a life warning, and a soul warning all rolled into one. Most of us don’t think of life as a trade—but it kind of is. 

We trade time for money. Peace for productivity. Relationships for results. Quiet moments with God for “just one more thing” on the to-do list. And we tell ourselves, “It’s just a busy season.” And—some seasons last about 30 years.

Jesus isn’t against ambition. The Bible never says, “Blessed are the unmotivated.” But it does warn us about chasing the wrong things.

Jesus once told a story about a rich man who built bigger barns to store all his stuff. God’s response? “Tonight your life will be demanded from you” (Luke 12:20).

In other words:  Great storage plan—terrible eternity plan.

When Jesus talks about losing your soul, He’s not talking about one dramatic moment. It’s usually quieter than that. It’s when faith becomes just something in the background. When prayer becomes optional. When success matters more than character. When we know what the Bible teaches—but don’t actually live it.

You can attend church, read Scripture, and still slowly drift from God—kind of like being married but never talking to your spouse. Technically connected—but emotionally distant.

Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Not second. Not when convenient. First!

Because He knows something we often forget:  You can have a full schedule—and an empty soul.

The Bible offers a different way to measure life. Not just by what you gain—but by who you become.

The apostle Paul said, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).

That’s not anti-success—that’s clarity. Real success isn’t just climbing higher—it’s staying anchored deeper.

So here’s the honest question Jesus leaves us with:

If you get everything you’re chasing, but lose your closeness with God, your integrity, your peace, and your purpose… was it really worth it?

Jesus isn’t trying to ruin your dreams. He’s trying to save your soul from being traded for things that won’t last. 

And really the best kind of success is this:  Not gaining the world—but gaining Christ.

James 1:22 - More Than Listeners

 James 1:22
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Wasting no time, James gets straight to the point in one sentence. He exposes a great, but quiet danger in our spiritual lives:  confusing hearing God’s Word with obeying it. 

Many of us are excellent listeners. We are consistent at attending worship. We regularly read Scripture, and recognize many familiar passages. Some of us have favorite Bible-related podcasts and programs we listen to often. But James warns that it is possible to do all of that and still deceive ourselves.

Now, that word, “deceive”, is important. Self-deception usually feels like confidence, and it can convince us we’re doing well spiritually simply because—well, after all—we are informed. But knowledge alone does not equal faithfulness. Jesus, Himself, asked the same hard question in Luke 6:46: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Having the knowledge of some respectful words, and even having some religious habits, mean little if they are not followed by obedience.

James compares God’s Word to a mirror (James 1:23). A mirror shows us the truth about ourselves, but it cannot fix anything. Looking into a mirror and walking away unchanged is pointless—and yet that is exactly what happens when we hear Scripture, recognize its truth, and then do nothing. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God’s Word is living and active, meant to search the heart and move us toward change, not mere agreement.

Right after washing His disciple’s feet, Jesus emphasized this same truth. He said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17). Notice—the blessing is not in knowing what is right, but in living it out. Obedience is where faith becomes real.

James is not calling for perfection, but sincerity. We may not understand everything in Scripture, but we can always obey what we do understand. Faith grows through small, daily acts of obedience—choosing honesty, forgiving when it’s hard, controlling our words, trusting God when circumstances are unclear.

Obedience is not about earning God’s love. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15). Obedience flows from love, trust, and gratitude—not fear.

James 1:22 leaves us with a simple but challenging question:  What am I doing with what I already know? Not what I plan to do someday—but how I am responding now. A faith that listens and obeys becomes steady, resilient, and genuine. That is the kind of faith James calls us to live—and the kind of faith that truly listens.

Matthew 16:24-26 - Counting the Cost of Following Jesus

 Matthew 16:24-26
“If anyone wants to 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 someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

At first glance, these words sound simple. But if you’ve ever tried to live them, you know they are anything but easy. They are beautifully clear, and wonderfully uncomfortable at the same time.

Take a minute and seriously look at what Jesus says:

“Deny yourself.” He’s telling us that following Him doesn’t work if our first priority is our own comfort, convenience, or ego. Discipleship starts with humility and surrender, not self-centered planning.

“Take up your cross.” Following Jesus will cost something. It may cost you comfort, time, approval, or even reputation. The path of faith isn’t paved with guarantees—it’s only paved with trust.

“Follow Me.” He didn’t say just sometimes. Or just when it’s convenient. He asks that you are all in! Following in every part of your life matters.

And here’s the part that really flips our expectation on its head:  Jesus says if we try to save our own lives—if we live only for comfort, security, or success—we are going to lose them. But if we surrender our lives for Him, we truly find them. The logic is upside-down from what the world is giving out:  what seems like “loss” is actually gain, and what seems like “saving” is actually destruction.

And–let’s be honest about it:  that is not an easy thing to read. Most, if not all of us, want to hold onto what we have. We like to protect our comfort, control our schedules, and preserve our plans. And many of us try to do both—follow Jesus, while at the same time keeping our own priorities firmly in place. But here is a spoiler alert:  it doesn’t work that way. You can’t serve two masters.

But there’s good news in all of this:  following Jesus is worth it. The world promises success, comfort, and fleeting pleasures, but only Jesus gives life that is deep, meaningful, and eternal. It doesn’t mean life will always be easy. But it does mean it will be real. It will be full. It will matter — forever.

So the real question isn’t, “Can I squeeze Jesus into my life?” It’s, “Am I living for Him, or am I living for myself?”

Because when we put Jesus first, everything changes. Our relationships become richer, our work becomes more purposeful, and even the struggles of life gain meaning. When we lose our lives for Christ, we discover life in the truest, deepest sense.

The choice Jesus lays before us is simple—but not easy:  deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. It costs something. But the reward is everything. Eternal life. True joy. Peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances. A purpose that reaches far beyond what we could ever accomplish on our own.

So the question remains:  Are we willing to let go of the things that weigh us down? Are we willing to surrender what the world says is important for what God says is eternal?

Because following Christ isn’t about comfort. It isn’t about avoiding trouble. It’s about gaining something infinitely more valuable—life itself, found only in Him.