The Value of A Soul
Good Morning,
The true value of something is not determined by what some fool will pay for the item, but what an intelligent and well-informed purchaser might pay. I could be fooled, perhaps, and spend a great deal of money on an antique that a wise antique dealer would say is worthless.
With that in mind, how can we explain the worth of a soul? It is impossible to explain or even understand the value of soul. What is so valuable that it is worth the life of the Son of God? What is so valuable that it would move the Creator of the universe to give up His relationship with His own Son as Christ became sin on the cross?
The only way we can begin to understand the worth of a soul is to become more aware of the price that was paid. Consider the apostle Paul and the other apostles who gave up their lives for the name of Jesus. These men had careers and certainly needed no new cause to follow. Yet, they chose to forsake everything for that Name which is above every name, and they did it for the souls of men. That helps us understand a little bit about the value of a soul.
From the time of the apostles to the 1600s there were as many as fifty million Christians who gave their lives as martyrs: men, women, and children who devoted their lives to the truth of the Gospel and the salvation purchased by the Son of God. This illustration helps us a little more in seeing the value of a soul.
Today, as throughout history, young couples toss their dreams to the wind as they choose to live their lives in foreign lands for the name of Jesus and for the souls of men. Grandparents miss holidays and birthdays with their grandchildren. Medical needs are cared for in much more primitive circumstances than if they would have stayed in America. Often refined lives are shortened because of the unusual climates, disease, or parasites, yet more young couples go. Again, we see a little picture of the value of a soul.
Souls of a man are worth the price of death. The souls of men are worth facing the price of suffering. The value of a soul can be learned when we see a Sunday school bus driving through the community with a handful of dedicated workers visiting children on Saturday and picking them up on Sunday. They do not have to give their entire weekend, but they do it because of the value of a child’s soul.
Drive by the beautiful homes and consider the souls on their way to hell, thinking they have no need for God. Pause as you pass the many apartments being built, and remind yourself that every soul in every apartment will die and go to Heaven or hell. Look at the folks in your carpool, or in the office or shop where you work five days a week, and ask yourself is there any value to their soul?
Do you want to know how important a soul is? I could never properly explain it, but the Son of God left Heaven and spent thirty-three years on a sin-filled earth, just to redeem a soul. Jesus lived thirty-three years with corrupt humanity, without a home of His own, and without His earthly needs being met, but He also loved people and gave Himself tirelessly to the needs of those around Him. Jesus deserves all the glory and accolades of Heaven, it was He Who came to earth to be laughed at, mocked, considered a lunatic, stripped naked, and beaten beyond recognition as people watched. Consider Him Who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.
What is the value of a soul? A soul is worth dying for; a soul is worth living for; a soul is worth every Gospel track we distribute; a soul is worth every youth activity, camp, and conference.
What is the worth of a soul? A soul is greater in value than anything on the planet, but how much greater, it is impossible to know.
A soul is worth our giving up our young people to go “wherever” and face endless “who knows what?” This helps us see a little more about the value of a soul.
Consider what you would do for your own child, if a building was burning and your child was in it – then you would understand a little more of the value of a soul.
Pastor