Matthew 16:24-26 Take Up Your Cross

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  [Matthew 16:24‭-‬26 NASB]

This has got to be one of the hardest things for a 21st century American to grasp. We live in a society that is driven by Wall Street. Success is measured in gross assets. Preachers are on TV and radio, and writing best selling books to tell people that they can be their best self. They are more motivational speakers than preachers of the gospel. We are taught that God's purpose is to fulfill our desires.

I recently had a conversation with a Christian brother who was boasting that he was preparing to "trade up" his large house for an even larger one. What bothered me in this conversation was when he said that it was God's will for him to have the larger house. I asked him how he knew it was God's will, and he answered, "because I desire it."

I was taken aback by his answer, and asked him why he thought that his desire made it God's will. He answered "because God puts the desires in my heart."

I pointed out that the Bible teaches that there are desires of the flesh, and not every desire is from God. How did he know this desire was from God? His answer was, "because I have peace about it." In other words, since he felt good about it, it must be from God. He also quoted a scripture that said, "God will give you the desires of your heart."

I hope you see the error in his reasoning. (He never did). Pridefulness, and the desire for prestige do not come from God. He calls us to humility. His will is not for us to indulge ourselves, but to deny ourselves. There are many prosperity preachers on the air that equate material gain with holiness. Yet the wealthiest men in America make no claim of being Christian.

The Psalm says, "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart." [Psalm 37:4 NASB] Put another way "If you desire the LORD, He will give you your desire." If you seek Him, you will find Him. This doesn't even come close to saying "If you acknowledge the LORD and desire riches, then He will give you riches."

Jesus said that we should take up our cross and follow Him.

That means we are to die to self. Our own desires are subjugated to His. As Jesus said, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"

Yes, Jesus loves you. He wants the best for you. What is best for you is not the indulgence of the flesh, but the building of your character.

Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." [Matthew 6:19-21 NASB]

Don't keep you eyes on material rewards, lest you gain the world, and lose your soul.