What Perhaps is Worthy of Serious Thought?

When children ask if they can expect something or have something parents often say “no”, or perhaps “yes”, or probably more often “maybe.” Children don’t like “no” at all and they tend to despise the maybes of life.

“Perhaps” means “possibly but not certainly.” It is often used in a more formal context compared to similar words like “maybe.” There is also an older word “perchance,” which one would take to mean the same thing in Shakespeare’s day.

“‘To sleep, perchance to dream’ is a famous line in probably the most famous section of Hamlet. Shakespeare’s play is chock-full of famous lines – as the old quip has it, it’s a great play but has too many quotations in it – but this particular moment in this long tragedy offers an especially high density of well-known quotations per page.” – Interesting Literature, Dr. Oliver Tearle

Wealth or Soul – In What Order?

If you ask the average person if they want to be rich, perhaps they will likely say yes. They won’t say “maybe” and certainly most won’t say no. Some will say “perhaps” because they want to know what it will cost to get there. However, few take the time to weigh the value of their soul against the value of whatever worth the world may offer.

Jesus knew there was a struggle for this choice. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:26

Losing Your Soul

Greg Morse wrote about the “perhaps” of life on August 27, 2024. His article was “To Gain the World and Lose Your Soul.” He starts this piece by saying something profound.

“One great feature of modernity, from Satan’s standpoint, is the sheer rejection of the soul. We live in a world stupefied by the material. Ask ten people on the street about their souls — if they don’t wonder aloud, “What does this babbler wish to say?” (Acts 17:18), they will tell you that if they do have a soul, they have not thought much about it. Even ancient pagan philosophers wrote dense treatises on the soul, but the mass of men today live as though they are soulless. And yet these same people investigate the silliest things under the sun. If anything is worth thought, is it not your soul? “Claiming to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22).” – Greg Morse, DesiringGod

Ask and Think: Does Your Soul Matter?

Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to consider the tradeoffs of soul versus temporary satisfaction. Morse suggests that “Your soul is greater than safety”, “Your soul is greater than your body”, and “Your soul is greater than all the world.” The question we must ask is “do I live that way?” – DesiringGod

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

James, John, Paul, and all of the other authors of the New Testament scriptures pointed to the thing that really matters: the Gospel. While there are four gospels in the New Testament, they all point to the one Person who is able to save your soul.  My encouragement for you is to receive with meekness what God has said in his word. That is what true followers of Jesus do.

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:19-22

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.