Perception of the Value of the Soul
Our ability to apprehend things by means of our senses, cognitive ability and our understanding is known as our perception. The issue I would like to consider is do we really perceive the value of our own soul?
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Our soul is basically our self awareness, it is our consciousness, it is our life. It is what we take with us everywhere we go no matter what we are doing. It is that part of us that is separate from the machine of our body, it is that part of us that we could call "I am." Not in the sense to blaspheme and make ourselves as God (Exo 3:15, Joh 8:58), but in the sense that we are created in the image of God and have an intellect and are self aware (Gen 1:26).
Jesus made the interesting comment, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mar 8:36). Here Jesus clearly implies that the soul of a man is more valuable than that of anything that a man could hope to gain in the world.
Jesus was in a house teaching His disciples one day and he gave the following two illustrations...
Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Mat 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Jesus asserted that one ought spare no expense in order to obtain entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Bearing this in mind it is no surprise then that Jesus stated the following...
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
In Luke chapter 13 we find the following...
Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Strive in the Greek is "agōnizomai" and literally means to "agonise, struggle, contend for a prize." It is the same word Paul used when he wrote the following...
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
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The incorruptible crown is eternal life for the soul and it is indeed of very great value. One must also contend earnestly to receive it. Jesus clearly taught that eternal life was not something that was easily obtained but was actually something very difficult, it is something that comes at great price.
A very expensive price indeed. So expensive that one ought consider the price before they even begin to make such a transaction...
Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Paul wrote that we were bought with a price and that we are also to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God...
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Jesus taught that our souls are of great value.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
So did the Father...
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Life is short. Life is a vapour.
Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Will you esteem value on your soul or will you exchange it for temporal pursuits?
That is the question!
