subject: Lakeland Church - What Will It Profit A Man? [print this page] What Will It Profit A Man? What Will It Profit A Man?
By Wilson Copeland
Three famous Hollywood personalities died in 2009 within three days of each other.
Ed McMahon was the oldest, having just turned 86 just a couple months ago. McMahon was one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. During his long career he appeared on many TV shows and commercials, but he is best remembered for his role as the side-kick to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. For thirty years (1962-1992) McMahon sat next to Carson five nights a week, playing Johnnys straight man as millions watched. Hereeeeeeeees Johnny!
Farrah Fawcett broke into Hollywood doing commercials in the late 1960s. In the mid 70s she did a number of TV shows before hitting it big with Charlies Angels in 1978. Fawcett was strikingly beautiful, and her pin-up poster early in her career is still the best selling poster of all time (over 12 million sold).
Michael Jackson is undoubtedly the most famous of the three. Jackson started in the music industry as a child, the youngest of the Jackson Five family recording group. Eventually Jackson took off on his own, becoming one of the biggest names in the history of pop music. His Thriller album is still the largest selling album of all time, have sales of over 109 million (no one else has ever sold more than 45 million). For good or bad (i.e., his checkered personal life), and whether you liked his music or not, in worldwide popularity, his impact on the music scene causes him to be mentioned right alongside the likes of Sinatra, Elvis, and the Beatles. Which brings me to my point. Three famous people whose faces were immediately recognizable to our generation. Three individuals who had fame, riches, notoriety, and popularity. And yet when all is said and done, when the sun set at the end of their lives, what did it gain them? Well ... it gained them earthly fame, riches, and notoriety all of which was temporary and easily forgettable. Soon, other pretty faces, funny comedians, and brilliant musicians will cause us to forget. Jesus said, 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? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with Hisangels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. (Matt.16:26-27) The answer to Jesus question is simple. What will it profit? NOTHING! If I gain the whole world, with all the riches and pleasures that this life can give ... with all the fame and notoriety of a Michael Jackson, Elvis, or John Wayne or with all the power and prestige of a U.S. President. What if I gain it all rewriting the social or political landscape of our nation, with my name on every other page of the history books? So what? What have I gained, if I lose my eternal soul?
But lets not just point our fingers at famous Hollywood folks. Lets examine our own lives. How am I using my time and energy? What if I have the prettiest yard in the neighborhood? What if I have the best reputation at work? What if I can hit a golf ball straighter and farther than any of my weekly golfing buddies? What if I am the best a (you fill in the blank) and yet sacrifice my soul? Will it be worth it? We all know the answer. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes wrote, It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad a heart may be happy. (7:2-3)
Yes, going to a funeral is better than going to a party. It reminds us that death is coming that this event is the end of every man. So as we hear the news about these famous funerals, let us be reminded that our own funeral is coming. Truly, the wise man will take it to heart.
