A Fool Today? Everyday?

~ How Many Ways Can You Say It? ~            

Twentieth century martyred missionary Jim Elliot is known for a number of quotes—the most famous being, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot, 28 October 1949).

This quote is from his private journals which he never expected would be made public. The quote is a reflection upon his deep knowledge and understanding of Scripture. Consider the record we have of what Jim’s Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25).

Jim Elliot was certainly not the only one to have reflected so much on this truth that they paraphrased the words for themselves. Consider the following examples.

“It matters not what you lose if you save your soul; it matters not what you save if you lose it.”

“The greatest use of life is to spend it on something that outlasts it.”   

“Do not let the good things of life rob you of the best things” (Buster Kothman).

“He is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose” (Philip Henry—Matthew Henry’s father, 1631-1696).

“At the root of all the miseries of mankind is a miscalculation of the value of things” (Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790).

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least” (Goethe, 1749-1832). 

“I'd rather lose in a cause that will ultimately succeed, than succeed in one that will ultimately fail” (Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865).

 “If a man has Christ, he has all for eternity; and if he has not Christ, he is poor, and blind, and naked, and will be miserable forever” (Charles H. Spurgeon, 1834-1892).

 “Only one life twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last” (C.T. Studd, 1860-1931, note this entire poem was previously posted on ALN on November 22, 2011).

“There are two things that characterize the teachings of our Lord.  Number one is this: the worth, the infinite, heavenly, eternal worth of the soul.  And the second one: the transitory, temporal, ephemeral, ultimate worthlessness of everything else” (W.A. Criswell).

One of my favorites is, “Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.”

Summary  ~  The following excerpt is from R.G. Lee (1886-1978) and his sermon entitled “Paths of Disappointment” which was based on a single verse from Solomon—the wisest man who ever lived. “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

What shall it profit a man if he be a great artist and know not Jesus, the One Who is Altogether Lovely?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great architect and know not Jesus, the Chief Corner Stone?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great baker and know not Jesus, the Living Bread?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great banker and know not Jesus, the Priceless Possession?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great biologist and know not Jesus, the Life?

What shall it profit a man if he be a great builder and know not Jesus, the Sure Foundation?

What shall it profit a man if he be a great carpenter and know not Jesus, the Door?
What shall it profit a man if be be a great doctor and know not Jesus, the Great Physician?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great educator and know not Jesus, the Teacher?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great engineer and know not Jesus, the New and Living Way?

What shall it profit a man if he be a great farmer and know not Jesus, the Sower and Lord of Harvests?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great florist and know not Jesus, the Rose of Sharon?

What shall it profit a man if he be a great geologist and know not Jesus, the Rock of Ages?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great astronomer and know not Jesus, the Star of Bethlehem?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great horticulturist and know not Jesus, the True Vine?

What shall it profit a man if he be a great judge and know not Jesus, the Righteous judge?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great jurist and know not Jesus, the True Witness?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great jeweler and know not Jesus, the Pearl of Great Price?

What shall it profit a man if he be a great lawyer and know not Jesus, the Sinner’s Advocate?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great philanthropist and know not Jesus, the Unspeakable Gift?

What shall it profit a man if he be a great philosopher and know not Jesus, the Wisdom of God?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great sculptor and know not Jesus, the Living Stone?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great student and know not Jesus, the Incarnate Truth?
What shall it profit a man if he be a great sinner and know not Jesus, the Lamb of God?

Finally  ~  Consider something else which Jesus Christ said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Are you rich? Eternally rich?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW