What Would You Do For A Klondike Bar? - Lenten Devotional 14

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36 NKJV)

What would you do for a Klondike bar? Would you tattoo your company's logo on your arm for a raise? Would you bite off the head of a live mouse for $2M?

These are all questions I have been asked in my life at one point or another. When you stop and think about each of these, you are asking just how far would you go or how much would you do for money or some other material gain. As we contemplate offers such as these, we weigh the risk against the gain. 

Some risks include embarrassment and humiliation, ridicule and scorn, lifelong body altering, or risk of disease as in the case of the mouse. Most of the time we look at the immediate risks and not long term consequences of our actions. How long will it sting? We don't look at the consequences down the road. How will getting the job at corporate McDonalds be affected if we have a Burger King logo tattooed on our arm? (Now that was a hypothetical example, but there was a company in recent years that was paying its employees to get logos tattooed as an advertisement.) 

We must not just consider the short term consequences of our decisions. While they are important, we must also look down the road. If we are looked upon as someone who will do anything for material gain or notoriety, people may begin to consider us a risk ourselves. They may be see us as self-seeking and temporary and not want to take the time to invest time and energy in a relationship on a professional or even personal level. 

While $2M could definitely make life a little easier (who am I kidding? A lot easier!), I am not sure if I would actually come away from the experience proud of what I had accomplished in biting the head off of a live mouse. I don't think I could admire someone who did that. 

Now, as I say all of this, I am not really just referring to money. As we go through life, do we throw others under the bus to get noticed or avoid blame? Do we step on others' heads and hands while climbing the ladder? What do we do to get ahead?

Honestly, would your boss be more impressed with your willingness to get a logo tattoo over your dedication and hard work in the company itself? I sincerely believe the latter to be the answer.