In a fallen world, believers are always liable to lose those things that they hold precious. Whilst offering comfort, Scripture urges believers to set their hearts upon eternal treasures, which cannot be lost.
Loss is part of a fallen world
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Loss of property
Through theft
Through accident
Genesis 31:39; Exodus 21:33–34, Exodus 22:15; 2 Kings 6:5
Through disaster
Job 1:16; Acts 27:10, Acts 27:18–21
Through one's own fault
Proverbs 6:10–11, Proverbs 24:33–34, Proverbs 13:11, Proverbs 13:18; Luke 15:13
Through the judgment of God
Loss of family and friends
Through bereavement
Genesis 23:2, Genesis 37:34, Genesis 50:3; Numbers 20:29; Deuteronomy 34:8; Ruth 1:21 Naomi had lost her husband and her two sons; 2 Samuel 12:18–23; 2 Kings 4:18–21; Ezekiel 24:15–18; Luke 7:11–13
Through violence and disaster
2 Samuel 1:12; Job 1:18–19; Isaiah 47:8–9
Through alienation
Job 19:13–22; Psalm 31:11–12; 1 Corinthians 7:10–15
Losses in warfare
Genesis 14:11–12; 1 Samuel 4:17, 1 Samuel 23:5, 1 Samuel 30:1–2; 1 Kings 20:21; 2 Chronicles 13:17, 2 Chronicles 36:17–20; Luke 21:24
Other kinds of loss
Health and strength
Psalm 31:9–10, Psalm 32:3–4, Psalm 102:3–5, Psalm 102:11
Reputation
Psalm 102:8; 2 Corinthians 6:8
Dignity
Power
Employment
Time
Spiritual loss
Of the ungodly
Proverbs 6:12–15; 2 Thessalonians 1:8–10
Of the worldly
Matthew 16:26 parallels Mark 8:36, Luke 9:25 See also Luke 12:20–21; Hebrews 12:16–17
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Of the disobedient
Matthew 7:26–27 parallel Luke 6:49
Of the Jewish nation
Of the lazy servant
Of the careless worker
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.
Of the apostate
See also Hebrews 6:4–6
Voluntary loss
By Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity
For Jesus Christ
Matthew 16:25 parallels Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24Philippians 3:7–9 See also Matthew 10:39, Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 4:9–13; Hebrews 10:34, Hebrews 11:24–26
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
Losses made good
By restitution
By recovery
Luke 15:4, Luke 15:8, Luke 15:20
By God's goodness
Job 42:10; Matthew 19:29 parallels Mark 10:29–30, Luke 18:29–30; Romans 11:12
God seeks the lost soul
Luke 19:10 See also Luke 15:4, Luke 15:8, Luke 15:20
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Comfort in loss
God's comfort
Psalm 146:9; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4
The comfort of others
Job 2:11; John 11:19; Acts 11:28–29; James 1:27
Treasures that cannot be lost
Matthew 6:20 See also Luke 12:33; John 16:22; 1 Peter 1:3–5
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.