Psychology is big these days. There are sports psychologists, business psychologists, educational psychologists, clinical psychologists, child psychologists – even Christian psychologists. So, what’s all of that about? Well, I’m going to talk about your “psyche” today.
In Matthew 16:26, Jesus said “For what will a man be profited if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?”
The word “soul” here is the Greek word pseuche, meaning “soul; or life principle; or person.” It actually refers to the inner you – the person who inhabits your body. This word, pseuche, is where we get the word “psyche,” or “psychology,” or “psychiatrist.” Now psyche is a word used to refer to the inner reality of life, as contrasted to the outer body and life from a physical point of view. In others words, it’s you. It’s who you are. It’s your emotions, and feelings, and personality, and orientations toward life.
Years ago when I was in college, I remember taking a psychology course in “Theories of Personality.” Now what was interesting about that course was that none of the psychologists could agree on what “personality” was. There were as many theories of personality as there were psychologists all trying to figure it out. The Bible is different, though. It doesn’t argue personality types. The pseuche (or soul), is simply you – the real you, with all of your complexities and uniquenesses.
Now the important thing to notice is that Jesus said that you can lose (or forfeit) your soul. “What profit is there,” He said, “if you gain the whole world, and lose your soul?”
Say – there’s no profit in gaining the whole world – if you lose your soul.” Think about it!