Is Anything Worth More Than Your Soul?

The Market of Life:

The Paradox of Saving:

 "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?'

This is the "hook" before the question. What does it mean to want to "save" your life? Our natural human instinct in a tragic event is to protect ourselves from harm. We see this in the Parable of the Talents. The man given one talent thought that by hiding it, protecting it from risk that he was saving what he had and ultimately saving his life.

"Then the man who had received one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’" (Matthew 25:24–25)

He spent his time in negligence, trying to play it safe. In the end, because he tried to "save" his life through fear and inactivity, he lost it. He reaped everlasting death because he spent his life on the wrong things.

The Only Shelter:

 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

We must understand that we are discussing this because sin brought death. As the scripture records: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Because sin has brought inevitable death, Jesus has come to save us from the sin that leads to eternal death. No matter how highly esteemed or wealthy we may be, our lives still need saving and this is why Jesus has come to be our Savior.

A Life Worth Wasting

 Jesus highlights that there is only one thing you can spend your life on that is equal to the value of the soul He has given you: Himself. If our lives are considered "wasted" by the world because we gave them to Christ, then that "waste" is actually our greatest win. 

The Apostle Paul understood this daily expenditure of life: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16) Many people try to design a "middle way" spending a little on the world and a little on Christ. But the scripture is clear about lukewarm devotion: "So, because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16) Isaiah also challenged us with this same question centuries ago: "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55:2)

Coming Home:

 Brethren, I sincerely call you to a place of "retraction." Look at your life’s spending. How are you using your days? Perhaps today is an accounting day for you.

 Jesus gives us the assurance that if we spend our lives on Him, we cannot lose. Remember the Prodigal Son? He spent his life until he was exhausted and had nothing left. But when he realized his condition, he went back home.

 It is not too late for you to come home. Grace is standing ready to receive you. The blood shed on the cross of Calvary is still there to wash you clean and restore you to the status of the prince or princess you were meant to be.

 Don't let the enemy convince you that your life is only worth what you are currently living. Your life is priceless because you have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

If you realize you have been spending your life on things that do not satisfy, say this: "Jesus, I have long spent my life on valueless things. I realize now that they are not worth my existence. Lord Jesus, redeem me. I want to spend my entire life on You. I lay my life at Your altar; accept me and make me whole again. Return me back to Your presence. Amen."