
If a man wins the whole world yet impairs his own soul, Jesus rhetorically asks what profit — what gain — is that for the man?
“For what profiteth it to a man , if he win all the world, and do impairing to his [own] soul?”
Every day, people seek profits for the investments they make in time, in effort, in monies. Every day, some people win — what seems to them — “the whole world.” I’m not sure Jesus equates winning the whole world with loss of one’s soul. Rather, I think Jesus implies one’s focus ought not to be on getting “the whole world”, but on getting a relationship with Him so as to keep one’s soul.
William Shakespeare writes:
“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
Perhaps it works the other way around as well. If you are not false with others, then doesn’t it follow that you are true to your own self — your own soul? Gaining things means very little if you are false with others and with your own self.
How are you true to your self? By recognizing your nature is to be connected to your creator. Without God, you are literally lost. You wander about like a blind man, thinking you can see when you can’t. Winning the whole world, in this instance, is pointless. You are like a child sitting in a dark corner in a dark room. You may own the whole room, but you’re still blind.