The Tugs and Pulls of the World

Matthew 16:24-26

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 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?

Many individuals preoccupied by the cares of the world are not necessarily in transgression. But they certainly are in diversion and thus waste "the days of [their] probation" (2 Ne. 9:27). Yet some proudly live "without God in the world" (Alma 41:11), with gates and doors locked from the inside!

Mark it down, brothers and sisters, people too caught up in themselves will inevitably let other people down!

Let us adopt the attitude recommended by President Brigham Young: "Say to the fields, ... flocks, ... herds, ... gold, ... silver, ... goods, ... chattels, ... tenements, ... possessions, and to all the world, stand aside; get away from my thoughts, for I am going up to worship the Lord" (Deseret News, 5 Jan. 1854, 2)

-Neal A Maxwell, "The Tugs and Pulls of the World," Ensign, Nov 2000, 35-37