Mark 8:36-37(NKJV) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
“Affluenza” is a contagious social disease in affluent societies where people place a high value on money, possessions, appearances, status and fame. As believers who live in the world, we also need to be on the alert.
One common danger in the corporate world is “selling the soul” or giving our all to the company. It is a temptation to prioritise work, achievements, power and possessions above our family and God, and to be deceived into thinking that having all these will give us true happiness.
Many who have reached the top will testify that it is not true. In fact, it is not only a lonely, stressful and thankless place to be, but there may even be a price to pay, such as our health, relationships and family. In hindsight, many would admit to having regrets, because despite many “fair weather” friends, they had no real or loving friendships because they were simply being leveraged. They have lost themselves on the way to winning the world.
Sadly, many people don’t believe that eternity is real, nor do they know that their souls, minds, emotions and feelings would still be intact in hell. It is a place of regrets, with no way of returning or making things right. In Luke 16:19-31, the rich man was crying to Abraham and Lazarus to send someone to tell his brother not to head for the place of torment that he was in. The fact that he could remember his sibling while suffering in Hades means his memory was intact.
In the opening Scripture, Jesus asked the people what was the price for their soul. We should also ask ourselves regularly whether we have exchanged our soul that lasts for eternity for our temporal status in society. There is nothing worth exchanging for in comparison to eternity with God. Therefore, we need to put the first thing first rather than being blinded and deceived by the lusts of the flesh and the eyes in this sinful and perverted generation.
When we truly believe that our soul is priceless because we are bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, then we will not sell our soul to the company, because we know that we have no way of earning a right standing with God.
Sermon Series: Affluenza
不要赔上灵魂
马可福音8：36-37（NKJV）人就是赚得全世界、赔上自己的生命、有甚么益处呢。人还能拿甚么换生命呢。
“富贵病 – 现代文明富裕症”是富裕社会中的一种具传染性的社会疾病，人们高度重视金钱，财产，外表，地位和名望。作为生活在世俗世界里的信徒，我们还是需要保持警惕。
在商界中，一种常见的危险是“出卖灵魂”或把自己的全身心都交给公司。我们被诱惑把工作，成就，权力和财产置于家庭和上帝之上，我们着了道认为拥有所有这些会给我们带来真正的幸福。
许多已经登顶的人会证明这是不正确的。实际上，那里不仅是一个孤独，高压和徒劳无益的地方，甚至可能还要付出代价，比如健康，人际关系和家庭。事后看来，许多人会承认自己后悔了，因为尽管拥有许多酒肉朋友，但他们之间并没有真正或充满爱意的友谊，他们只是被利用了。他们在赢得世界的道路上迷失了自己。
可悲的是，许多人不相信永恒是真实的，他们也不知道自己的灵魂，思想，情感和感觉在地狱中仍将存在，这是痛悔之境，没有回头路可走，也没有纠正的机会。在路加福音16：19-31中，那个（死后的）财主向亚伯拉罕和拉撒路大喊，要派人告诉他的兄弟不要重蹈覆辙，以免将来前往他所处的折磨之地。他能在地狱里记得他的兄弟表示他的记忆完好无损。
在本文开篇的经文中，耶稣问百姓他们灵魂的代价是什么。我们也应该经常问自己，我们是否也已经将永恒的灵魂兑换成了我们在社会上暂时的地位。比起在永恒中与神同在，其他的都不值一提。因此，我们务必使要事居首，而不是在这个罪恶和变态的世代中被肉体和眼目的私欲所蒙蔽。
当我们真正相信自己的灵魂是无价的，因为我们是被耶稣基督的宝血所赎回时，我们就不会将自己的灵魂出卖给公司，因为我们知道我们无法赚取上帝面前公义的地位。
讲章系列：富贵病 – “现代文明富裕症”