We have all heard the saying “No Pain, No Gain.” But what gain do you want, and what pain are you willing to endure to get it?

The reason I ask this, is because it is so easy for Christians to fall into the worldly trap of achievement.

Money, property and prestige are a very intoxicating elixir to possess when the results of it is the GAIN of the admiration and respect of others, as well as ease and comfort in life that the financial and social success ‘seem’ to provide.

Or does it?

Is there freedom and serenity in that success, or does that desire actually provide a gain pain? 

 

A gain pain is a natural, not necessarily intended, consequence that is received by the actions that were taken to reach the achievement you wished for.

We can have a gain pain for good, just as well as we can for bad.

 

   ☆ We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

   • 1 John 5:19

 

When we die to self, gain pain is definitely there.

It hurts when we have to rip off that old man.

It can be very painful to be vulnerable for the first time as that new child in Christ.

But…

That is a good trade.

That discomfort is temporary and the results are our eternal glory.

That is a real, and even more important, eternal pain GAIN!

 

But that is NOT what today’s scripture is speaking about.

 

This scripture speaks about giving up one’s soul to achieve their worldly desires.

This scripture eludes to how man’s lust for the result he wants makes him willing to sell himself to get it. 

Today’s Word speaks about how some are willing to ‘compromise God to receive the World.

 

There are so many we do not see…

Those who seek political power, financial control, and cultural dominance can sometimes be behind the scenes, not visible to the public eye, but they have a desire so strong they are willing to do anything to get it.

 

Then there are those we DO see.

Those who have such an unhealthy need for attention.

Their desire for wealth, and the passion for promotion.

 

We see it all over the place.

They live in that Roseanne Barr example of “Any attention, is better than NO attention.”

 

To be ‘liked’ on this platform, or to be followed by a certain number of people on another, to be someone who can create a persona that can be considered an ‘influencer’.

 

Think about it…how many influencers point to GOD?

 

   ☆ In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

   • 2 Corinthians 4:4

 

The way the world measures the scale of success has been gradually becoming darker and darker, as the evil one is getting closer to defeat.

 

Generally speaking, it takes more and more outrageous behavior and ungodliness in nature, to be successful and have notoriety in today’s culture.

 

So much of the time, we see that it takes one to have to ‘give up their soul’ to achieve ‘their worldly desires’.

That is an eternal pain gain also.

Sadly the pain is eternal death and the gain is temporary on earth.

 

But we don’t have to be concerned about that.

 

   ☆ “For God so loved the whole world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

   • John 3:16

 

So let us seek HIS eternal gain, and go through the temporary pain of 

Dying to self.

 

Because living for HIM will free us from all pain in eternity.

 

THAT is a pain gain worth having!

 

I love you guys!