A Soul is Obviously worth more than anything in this world.

Main question

Mat 16

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

If you or I were to try to put a value on a soul, what would it be? Would it be $100? a million dollars? Or worth more than anything in the world? Of course, from what we've just read, a soul is worth more than anything in the world. A soul is that eternal part of us that lives on after the body dies. That's interesting to think about isn't it? One trait of the soul is that it lives on forever.

As we read in...

Mat 6

19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

What would you pay for a car that never breaks down? Some people might trust a particular brand of car and claim it rarely breaks down but they can't say nothing will ever go wrong with it. Some day those tires will need replacing. It needs oil changes. The gasoline needs to be replaced as its burned up. You're constantly fighting the effects of that car's aging with maintenance just to get any use out of it.

We have children perhaps in part because we want to pass on part of ourselves as though we were achieving a sort of longevity through our children. But our children will eventually pass away too. But God in his wisdom made us with this eternal part that lives on. Many in the world don't believe in this eternal part so they live as though they may as well do anything they want because they don't believe there are any lasting consequences. What does it matter if I look at pornography? What does it matter if I hate my neighbor...as long as I don't actually hurt him. It doesn't really matter in the end. But there are consequences when we choose to do evil rather than good...

Luke 16

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

There are terrible consequences if we choose not to follow God. One of our goals as Christians is to help to warn people about this and direct them wherever possible to follow God. Many will chose to scoff at us for our beliefs but we can't let that deter us.

And so what lengths should we go to to protect our souls from these terrible consequences? Well we must be willing to make many sacrifices as we read in...

Mat 5

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

We realize from what Jesus says here to what extent we should protect our souls. That we should avoid endangering them through evil behavior and so on. But also, we realize how important our souls are so that we'd be willing to make these sacrifices. Our soul is perhaps the only eternal thing we have any effect on in this world. But when we think about this, we must also realize the value of others' souls. We may have an effect on them and we must be willing to go to great lengths for them too.

1 Cor 8

7 ¶ Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

So not only should we go to great lengths to protect our own souls, but we should go to great lengths not to weaken any of our brothers and sisters in Christ through our behavior. We should realize the value of the souls of others.

When we do realize that, "hey, this fellow has a soul" and we think about that then we are more likely to perhaps say something like "Well, I see that this life of stealing has not turned out so well but there is a better way through Jesus Christ." Maybe he'll scoff at the idea or ridicule you...but he has a soul that is worth saving if he'll listen.

Mat 5

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

When a brother or sister strays from the path of godliness, we should remember that they are not our enemy but that they are a person with a soul. A very good thing is done if we help them to return to the path of godliness.

James 5

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Imagine that...having a hand in helping someone to come to Jesus for the first time or to return to Christ after straying from the path.

The soul is what truly has value in the end and it is a terrible waste when a soul is separated from God.

Mat 10

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Jesus came to save those who sin...and the more someone has sinned, the more Jesus can recover them from this sin as they turn from their old lives and are forgiven through him. In fact, the more someone has sinned, the more they need Jesus as we see in...

Mark 2

15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

So again, its not just we in the body of Christ who have souls but also those outside and it's important for us to remember that.

The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all people would turn to him...

2 Peter 3

9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

So there will come a time of judgement. Did this person serve God? And not only we will be judged but everyone else too...good and evil. And God doesn't want so many people to choose to ignore him but many have and will. But perhaps we can help someone to realize that they need him.

Paul thought that the soul was so very important when he wrote in...

1 Thes 5

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our prayer is also that all souls would be saved by coming to Christ. We should glorify God in our behavior, praise him in worship, and even help to spread the word of the gospel to help in whatever way we can because we all have souls that are worth something.