The financial markets ended 2011 relatively flat–no significant change, neither up nor down for the year. Along the way in 2011 investors experienced a lot of wild swings, but the ups and downs, gains and losses, pretty much netted zero. Informally, we might say that “it didn’t amount to much.”
I am not thinking about financial markets. I am thinking about our spiritual lives. Interesting comparison. The spiritual life is different, but the same. Spiritually, some ended the year up, some ended the year down, and some ended the year where they began. True of individuals. True of churches.
Think with me about the comparison and applications. The book of James poses the question of today’s title: What is your life? James’ response is that life is brief at best. Jesus spoke to the question of life when he spoke of gains and losses. What is life about? How does one measure life? What is gained if that of ultimate value is lost? What exchanges are you willing to make? Life is a series of gains and losses, a series of exchanges.
We come into this world with nothing. From a physical or temporal perspective, we will leave the same way. We brought nothing into this world; we will take nothing out. Along the way, we experience numerous gains and losses. A short list of things gained or lost might include family, friends, education, knowledge, wisdom, experiences, skills, faith…. You can make your own personal list. Some gains are a natural part of life; some gains are hard won. Some losses are inadvertent and unavoidable, some are a part of life’s normal shifts and changes. Many gains come as a result of sacrifices and the decision to give up something else.
Think not about a year, but about a life. What will be the net result of your life? Which priorities are worth pursuing? When all is said and done, what will you have said and done? It is not folly to give up what you cannot keep to obtain that which you cannot lose. Each day in 2012, I will exchange something I have (a day of life) for something else. The days of my life will be a combination of gains and losses. My goal is to end up with that of eternal, lasting value.