March 13: The Deception of Worldly Success
📖 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?"
-Matthew 16:26
For What Will It Profit a Man?
A Long-Form YouTube Devotional 🌟
Hey everyone, I'm Adam, and today we’re diving deep into a question that’s been haunting me lately—a question Jesus dropped over 2,000 years ago that somehow feels more relevant in our hyper-materialistic world than ever:
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?"
Before we cannonball into this, a quick shoutout: If you’re new here, welcome! We do daily devotionals for busy Christians trying to keep God at the center when the world’s pulling us in a thousand directions. Sound familiar? Hit that subscribe button if you’re in the same boat. Alright, let’s jump in! 💦
The Confession That Changed Everything
I’ve got a confession to make. For the longest time, I misunderstood this verse in Matthew 16:26. I thought Jesus was laying out a simple trade-off: worldly success on one side, spiritual health on the other. Pick a lane. But nope—that’s not it. He’s dropping a profound truth about the nature of fulfillment itself—about what it really means to live.
Think about it: What does "gaining the world" look like for you? For most of us, it’s those shiny markers of success:
💼 The promotion.
🏡 The house in the right neighborhood.
🚗 The car that turns heads.
📸 The Instagram-worthy vacation.
👏 The respect that comes with achievement.
I chased all of it. And guess what? I caught a lot of it.
When the Dream Didn’t Deliver
There was a time in my life when everything seemed to be clicking professionally. Opportunities multiplied. Income grew. Influence expanded. From the outside, I was living the dream. The American Dream. Heck, even the Christian American Dream—blessed by God with prosperity and success.
But here’s the weird part: As my world got bigger, something inside me shrank. It started small—the thrill of each new win fading faster, the restlessness that wouldn’t quit no matter how much I had, the struggle to just be present.
Then came the moment. I was home—physically there—but my brain was elsewhere: project deadlines, career moves, investment returns. My kids were playing nearby, and one of them—I don’t even remember which one, and that says it all—asked me to join.
"Not now," I said, eyes glued to my phone. "Dad’s busy."
I’d said it a hundred times before, but this time? It hit different. The veneer cracked. I saw it: My kids were becoming strangers to me. The busier and more "successful" I got, the more I drifted from them. I was gaining the world and losing my soul—the very essence of what makes life worth living—slipping through my fingers like sand.
The Irony of “Doing It for Them”
Here’s the kicker: I thought I was doing it all for them—building security, creating opportunities, setting an example of excellence. But what example was I really setting?
❌ That relationships come second to achievement?
❌ That presence matters less than productivity?
❌ That the invisible stuff of the heart is less valuable than the visible trappings of success?
Here’s what I’ve learned about Jesus’s warning: The danger isn’t in having worldly success. It’s in how chasing it quietly rewires our values, priorities, and identity without us even clocking it.
Money Isn’t the Villain—But It Can Be a Trap
Money itself? Not the problem. I’ve discovered it’s huge for a comfortable life and opening doors to bless others. But money chased for its own sake—for status, security, superiority? That’s a soul-corroding force.
The world’s got a simple motto: More is better.
💰 More money.
🌟 More recognition.
🏆 More achievement.
📦 More possessions.
It all adds up to more worth, more security, more happiness, right? It’s so baked into our culture we don’t even question it.
But Jesus flips the script:
📖 "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"
He’s saying all the external stuff can’t fill the hole left by losing what’s inside—our connection to God, our capacity for love, our purpose, our peace.
The Ladder Against the Wrong Wall
Picture this: You climb a ladder your whole life—focused on each rung, the grind, the progress, the view from higher up. You hit the top, exhausted but proud, only to realize… it’s leaning against the wrong wall. All that effort, all that sacrifice—pointed at a destination that can’t satisfy.
That’s the tragedy Jesus warns us about. Success and wealth aren’t evil—they just make lousy masters and terrible gods. When we build our lives around chasing them, we’re setting up that ladder all wrong.
So How Do We Keep Our Souls Intact?
I’m still figuring this out, but here are some anchors keeping me grounded in a world obsessed with “more”:
1️⃣ Spot the Treadmill
The finish line of "enough" keeps moving. Just when you think you’re good, society dangles the next shiny thing. Step one? Realize you’re on that treadmill.
2️⃣ Redefine Wealth God’s Way
In Christ’s economy, the richest folks don’t have the fattest wallets—they’ve got the fullest hearts. True wealth? It’s relationships, purpose, and peace from lining up with God’s will.
3️⃣ Soul-Care Isn’t Optional
We nourish our bodies—why starve our souls? Spiritual disciplines, real community, regular sabbath—they’re non-negotiable for thriving.
4️⃣ Hold It All Loosely
The world says grip tight; Jesus says let go. Freedom comes from knowing nothing’s really “ours”—it’s all God’s, and we’re just stewards for a season.
5️⃣ Invest in the Eternal
At life’s end, the only returns that last are what you’ve poured into people and God’s kingdom. Everything else? It fades the second you’re gone.
The Night My Son Redefined “Rich”
One evening, after another “important” workday, my son was waiting up for me. No agenda—just wanted to hang. We sat in comfy silence until he hit me with this:
“Dad, do you like being rich?”
I almost launched into a “we’re not that rich” spiel, but I stopped. He wasn’t talking bank accounts.
“What do you mean by rich?” I asked.
“You know,” he said, “having lots of people who love you and doing things that make you happy.”
Boom. Through a kid’s eyes, Matthew 16:26 clicked like never before. I’d been chasing the wrong definition of wealth all along.
💡 True wealth isn’t what you have—it’s what has you.
💡 It’s not possessions—it’s purpose.
💡 It’s not acquisitions—it’s alignment with God’s heart.
The Freedom of Letting Go
I’m still learning this. Some days, I flop hard, sucked back into the world’s success trap. But more and more, I’m tasting the wild freedom of ditching the world’s prosperity playbook for Christ’s invitation to real abundance.
So here’s my question for you:
What version of “gaining the world” is threatening your soul today?
The hunt for financial security that kills generosity?
The race for career wins that crowds out loved ones?
The pile-up of stuff that squeezes out simplicity?
Name it. Feel its tug. Then hear Jesus’s question cut through the noise:
📖 “What profit is there in gaining the entire world while losing the very essence of who you are?”
A Richness the World Can’t Touch
When we sync our success with God’s—choosing faithfulness over fame, character over comfort, eternal impact over earthly clout—we unlock a richness the world’s prosperity can’t touch.
So today, take one step off the treadmill toward soul-deep wealth:
✅ Block off family time—no work allowed.
✅ Start your day with prayer and Scripture, not screens.
✅ Use your resources or talents to bless someone, no strings attached.
What’s your step? Drop it in the comments—your story might spark someone else’s breakthrough! If this hit home, give it a thumbs up 👍 and share it with anyone wrestling to balance worldly wins with spiritual roots.
We’re in This Together
We’re all learning—day by day—how to hold this world’s stuff loosely while clinging tight to what lasts. Until next time, keep seeking His kingdom first, and watch everything else fall into place. ✝️
An Invitation to go Deeper….
If today’s message spoke to you, join the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge and strengthen your connection with God’s unshakable love. You are never alone—let’s grow together!
