What is ‘Profit’? Salvation! Jesus asked, what shall it profit a man, if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36). What is our ‘Purpose’? To leave and cleave; to leave the things of this world, and to cleave to God (Acts 11:23). for even the whole world is not gain without Christ. I was recently introduced to an enlightening concept on what motivates us by my good friend Vinoth Rajkumar. The lively animation he referred to is called “Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us” which is an adaptation of Dan Pink’s impressive talk at the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA). Dan shares that in organizations, when the ‘Profit’ motive becomes unmoored from the ‘Purpose’ motive, bad things happen. This is not only applicable in our secular society but has a significant parallel in our Christian walk as well.

Salvation of the soul, which is by believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the only profit that matters. Not even the whole world if offered and gained can compare to that. Our ‘profit’ motive should be to be Saved. Our ‘Purpose’ motive should be to leave the things of this world that defile us and cleave to the Lord who keeps us pure and blameless. Daniel (which means God is my Judge) purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself (Daniel 1:8) with what he puts into his body even if it was served from a king’s table, for he knew that God (THE KING of kings) would judge him if he chose not to remain faithful by cleaving to the Lord and his commandments. Let us be likewise as well, for when our ‘profit’ motive  (of being Saved) is unmoored from the ‘purpose’ motive (of leaving the worldly things and cleaving to God), bad things such as displeasing and dishonoring God happen.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. What is your profit? Is your soul not lost i.e., Have you received Christ Jesus? Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior if you are unsure of whether your soul is saved or not and be assured henceforth that it is, when you do so.
  2. What is your purpose? Let us purpose not to defile ourselves and to cleave on to God who can purify us and present us blameless (undefiled).
  3. Are you/I displeasing and dishonoring God by not purposing to leave that we ought to and not cleaving unto God? If so, let us no longer.

Mark 8:35-37 (KJV)
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Daniel 1:8 (KJV)
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Acts 11:23 (KJV)
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.