They came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”
He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”
Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”
“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he strictly warned them to tell no one about him.
Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”
Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? What can anyone give in exchange for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
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Notice the wisdom as Jesus warned against gaining the world while losing one's soul. Where are you chasing something that costs you more than it's worth? How can you choose what truly matters this week?
Each week we are focusing on a different classical virtue, a habit of excellent character, and exploring what small steps you can take today to cultivate that virtue in your life. This week, we are looking at the virtue of prudence, or wisdom. Prudence is practical knowledge and choosing to act in a way that is appropriate for your circumstances. Wouldn't it be great if the Bible was an instruction manual? Instead, God has given us a Bible that teaches principles and is mostly narratives that lead us to wrestle with what kind of people he calls us to be.
Grow in prudence by naming one thing you are currently chasing that may be costing you more than it's worth (time, peace, integrity, relationships). Write it down, hold it before God, and ask: "Is this gaining the world while losing my soul?" Make one decision this week that puts your formation first.
Father, give me the prudence to see what truly matters. Keep me from chasing what would cost me my soul and order my desires toward you.
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.