Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matthew 16:26). Is your soul for sale? The Devil would like it to be. He will give you anything within his power for it. Sadly, there have been many over the years who have sold their souls to the Devil, and in each case, the Devil has gotten a bargain. The soul is the most precious thing in the world. You do not own anything as valuable as it. Yet, amazingly, many will sell their souls just to gain things that are of this world. Here are some examples:
Popularity
Most people want to be popular, at least to some extent. It is nice to have people pay attention to us. It is nice to be flattered by words. It feels good to know that we are liked by others. These are some of the things that come with popularity. But are they worth the soul? The answer is no. Paul realized that and so he was willing to give up things that would certainly make him very popular. In Philippians three we read, “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:5-7).
Paul went from being esteemed among the Jews to being an enemy. He could have gone back to Judaism and regained his lost standing in the Jewish community. He could have sold his soul for popularity. However, to Paul, it was not worth it. What about you? Is popularity worth the cost of your soul? I hope not.
Earthly Riches
The Devil has frequently cashed in on man’s desire to possess the riches of this world. Demas sold his soul for the things of this world. Paul said, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. . .” (2 Timothy 4:10). He was not the last to sell his soul for riches. It happens all the time. Many are obsessed with the lure of the mighty dollar.
Think of all the people who have lived recklessly as they chased material gain. Think of all the drug dealers, thieves, scam artists, etc., who have one thing in common—the love of money. Think of those who have lost their life savings by gambling. It may be, according to society, that they have a disease, but it all started because of the love of money. Think about the murders that have taken place and the lives destroyed because of an overbearing desire to be rich.
Truly, the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). The sad thing is, many sell their souls by desiring to be rich, yet never obtain the riches they crave. Even those who do obtain them, do not seem to realize, at least until it is too late, that those riches will not satisfy them (Ecclesiastes 5:10).
Citizens of the kingdom of God have to be careful of this. It is not just a problem among worldly-minded people who are outside of Christ, but also a danger of which we must all be aware. Jesus was speaking to those who would be members of the body of Christ when He said, “Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal…” (Matthew 6:19-21). Let us all be on guard. Let us be sure to set our affections on things above (Colossians 3:2).
The Desires of the Flesh
This is another area where Satan has enjoyed great success. Many say, “What can be wrong with bringing a little pleasure to oneself, especially when no one else is hurt by my actions?” Commercials on T.V. abound with advertisements that suggest the only way to live is to fulfill fleshly desires that are contrary to God’s law. People of intelligence conclude that there is nothing wrong with getting drunk once in a while, as long as one is not an alcoholic. Then, some believe that there is nothing wrong with having sex outside of marriage, as long as it is done safely. I have even heard pornography is justified, as long as it is done in good taste. People who reason like this have sold their souls to the Devil, not realizing that the pleasures of sin only last for a moment (Hebrews 11:25).
What is more important to you than the salvation of your soul? I hope the answer is nothing.