What is the value of your soul?

In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus said to his disciples, “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. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

In these few, short verses Jesus teaches some tremendous truths. Along with the doctrine that God is able to kill both body and soul in hell, and this he will do to the lost some day, we see also that value is attached to each and every one of us — we are all worth more “than many sparrows.” The only question that remains is what exactly is that value?

Have you ever thought about the value of your soul? While it is plain in the scriptures that our bodies are corrupt and of little value, the real you, and hence real value, is what is on the inside, your eternal soul. This body is just the shell, and with time it will wither with age, if not disease. But what is the value of your eternal soul?

From the scriptures, we see the value placed upon each soul by the Triune God. The value placed upon the soul by God the Father is the value of his Son, for John says that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” Which one of you out there would be willing to value the life of another in terms of your child? Yet, God the Father values your soul in those very terms.

The value placed by God the Son is the value of what he gave up. In Philippians we are told that he was “in the form of God … but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.” He gave up the glories of heaven to come and die for sinful souls.

We see the value placed by God the Spirit by what he does. He has been in this world for nearly 2,000 years now, convicting and convincing men, women, boys and girls of their sins, turning them in repentance unto Jesus for the salvation of their souls. And he will continue this life- saving calling until the day he is recalled into heaven at the rapture, as recorded in II Thessalonians chapter 2.

But there is also value placed upon a soul by the Devil. It is worth his trouble to confuse and deceive because mankind is the crown jewel of God’s creation, and every soul he turns away from salvation represents a loss for God. Though he cannot realize a true gain as he will eventually be destroyed himself, such is his hatred for his creator that he counts as gain what his creator counts as loss.

But have you ever thought that even you place a value on your own soul? In Mark chapter 9, Jesus said, “If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.” What he is trying to get across is that even lost men know that in order to get saved they will have to give up their favorite sin. And what he is saying is that if it takes cutting off your hand, you will be better off without it than going to hell with it.

So, what is the value that you give to your soul?

Perhaps it’s the value of that bottle of beer or alcohol that helps you loosen up with that “someone special.” Or perhaps it’s the price of that dress that is way too short, but you like to wear it anyway because of the attention it gets you.

The truth is that far too many people don’t value their souls more than they do their sins. In a society that has gone to such great lengths to emphasize self-esteem, it is not their self which they esteem, but their sin.

My friend, until you are willing to turn from your sin in repentance toward God, not only is Jesus not interested in your insincere pleas for salvation, but your soul really has very little worth in your own eyes.

Ron Hamman is pastor of Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229 or ron.hamman@gci.net.