Not That Great At The Top

Climbing Mount Everest has a fascinating history. Until the mid-1990s, one-quarter of all people who attempted to reach the summit died in the process. Two years ago was the deadliest year for those making the attempt.

The mountain is literally littered with bodies of climbers who froze, fell, or were oxygen-starved to death on the mountain. About half of those who died while climbing went down in areas where their bodies could not be retrieved. They are frozen in time, still dressed in their climbing gear, and many still clutching their ropes.

A few years ago, David Sharp was one of those climbers who got into trouble and eventually died on the mountain. Sociologist John Brueggemann tells the story in his book, Rich, Free, and Miserable. Over 40 climbers saw that he was in trouble while he was still alive and could have helped him, but did not because it would have kept them from reaching their own goal of making the summit. He died because they passed him by.

Wow. I’ve seen some spectacular mountain views. But no summit, not even Everest, is worth a sacrifice like that. And that was the point of Brueggemann’s book. Look again at the title: Rich, Free, and Miserable.

It is an apt description of millions of people. They’ve reached the top…but found it wasn’t that great…not after what they passed by on the way there.

And maybe that's you. You strive to get more, do more, and be more, and it often causes you to pass right by what really matters.

But life isn’t about what you achieve, get, or win. For the follower of Jesus, it’s about serving God and serving others. And He taught us that the most important thing we can do is to give of ourselves for the Gospel—bringing other people to Him.

I’m a big believer in goals. I’m a believer in attempting big things and going after life. But each of those 40 climbers who passed by David Sharp would now tell you that it was not worth it. It’s just not THAT great at the top…not great enough for the sacrifices many make in order to get there. When you reach your goal, will you have passed by people who desperately need what you have to offer, in order to achieve something that will be temporary and unfulfilling?

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” — Jesus (Mark 8:35-37 NKJV)