Jump Start # 749

Matthew 16:26 “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

This week we have been looking at questions found in the New Testament. One thing this study has shown is that there are dozens and dozens of questions. Some were asked of Jesus. Some, Jesus asked. It would be hard to rank them or list the “top 10 questions of the N.T.” Some have, but the list is their selection not God’s.

Our question today was asked by Jesus. It follows His invitation for all who are weary to come to Him and He will give them rest. Jesus asks, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” Then comes our question today, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Jesus is stressing the value of the soul. Value is determined a number of ways. There are many shows on TV where folks will bring in old or odd things and an offer is made for them. Sometimes the offer seems off the charts. Other times, it seems that they are not getting a fair deal.

• Value is often based upon how rare something is. This is why original artwork is so expensive.
• Value is based upon how much something cost to make it. The manufacture or seller is going to charge more than the cost so they can have a profit.

• Value is determined by sentimental meaning. Mothers would not sell those pictures that her children drew when they were in kindergartner. They are priceless to a mother. Try to take them to an art gallery and she’ll be shown the door out. Try to sell them on Ebay and she will get no bids. But in her heart, her precious children drew them out of love and there is nothing she’d take for them.

• Value is determined by what someone else is willing to pay. The market drives the price. If things are too expensive, people will not buy them.

Our souls are the most valuable things we possess. It is more expensive than our homes, our net worth or our nest eggs. When we die, we leave everything and only our soul lives on. Our souls are more valuable than our eyes, our teeth, our health, our fulfillment, or, our happiness.

Some can struggle with poor health but be rich in their soul. Some can be surrounded with dysfunctional people that are demanding and troublesome, but their souls can be at peace. A poor man can go to Heaven. A man with a simple education can go to Heaven. A person who lived a long time ago and never experienced anything like we have today, could have a soul that pleased God and will spend forever in Heaven. The body can be killed, but not the soul.

Once a person starts getting all of that, Jesus’ question makes a lot of sense. What would a person give in exchange for the most valuable thing they have? Nothing you have will equal your soul. Nothing! Nothing compares to your soul! Nothing. Your soul is you. It is marked by your personality. It is stained with your sins. It can be washed by the blood of Jesus. It is the part of us that outlives our bodies. It is the part of us that lives on in eternity. Nothing is like our soul. Nothing we have can come close to our souls in value or importance.

Getting that thought makes a person realize that taking care of my soul is more important than taking care of my health. Eating right and exercising is great, but I’ll still die. My soul lives on. Taking care of my soul is more important the the upkeep of my house. It’s more important than my investments. Nothing trumps the value of the soul.

If those thoughts are true, then it seems we ought to pay attention to the wellbeing of our soul. What is the condition of our soul? Do we even know? Many go to a doctor for an annual checkup. How about a spiritual checkup?

Jesus seems to be trying to get the disciples to see how out of balance our thinking is. We pay so much attention to the exterior that we forget there is an interior. We want to look good, dress good, smell good, eat good, and have a good time. The pursuit of happiness has passed the pursuit of holiness. Legalizing pot, approving of homosexual relationships are examples of how our culture is not even aware that there is a soul. We as a nation have become so material, so physical, so external, that the thought of the soul never crosses the radar for most people. Like the days of the Judges, everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

The rich man in Luke 16 is an example of one who lived without giving much thought to his soul. He was rich. He ate well. He had a gated home. He also ignored the sickly Lazarus who was dumped by his gate. The rich man died and for the first time in a long time, or even ever, he realized that he had a soul. His wealth, position and power could not help his tormented soul after death. He ignored the most valuable thing he had. He would love to make one final exchange to help his soul. But he couldn’t. He had nothing that would equal the value of that soul. Thousands have found themselves beside that rich man, too late to do anything and unable to do anything about a soul that they ignored, starved and neglected all those years. A soul that was twisted with wickedness and fed selfishness. A soul that was filled with worry and stress. A soul that longed to know Jesus. A soul that needed to be forgiven by Jesus. A soul that was wasted.

What does all of this tell us? Our soul needs to be taken care of. It’s precious. Don’t feed it junk and hurtful things and sinful things. Your soul wants to soar with goodness and righteousness, that’s what it was made for. It longs to know the Lord. It wants to do right. Feed it daily by spending time with the Bible. Go every week to church services and praise God. Watch what you read, listen to or watch. Choose friends wisely. Surround yourself with godly people.

Take care of that soul, it’s the only one you have. You can’t wear it out and then get another one. You can’t abuse it and then exchange it for a new one. You have one and that’s all you get. Our soul is what makes us different from everything else. Without a soul we live like the animal. Our soul has God’s thumbprint upon it. Our soul is the image of God, sacred, special and a divine gift.

What will you give for it? Great question…great responsibility…great gift.

Thank you, Lord!

Roger