Extraordinary Exchange

“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?  For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (Proverbs 23:5).  “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). 

Our riches are fading, and soon they’ll be gone;

Eternity comes, and we won’t have a dime.

So what will we do at eternity’s dawn,

If all of our planning was only for time?

Should we set your eyes upon that which is not?

Our riches will certainly make themselves wings.

Right now is the time to be giving this thought,

And not when it’s too late to remedy things.

For what shall it profit our soul if we gain

The title to own all the earth may now give

Yet lose our own soul which we comfort in vain,

Though fair-weather friends may applaud how we live?

Indeed, there was never an offer so strange

As trading our soul for a temporal pleasure.

Though many continue to make this exchange,

The height of its folly is too great to measure.

O Lord, we give thanks for the questions You posed,

Exposing extraordinary choices presented.

So help us to reach those whose hearts are not closed

Before the exchange of their soul is lamented.