Text: Matthew 16:24-27
There are many investments that one can make (stocks, real estate, collectibles, cryptocurrency, etc.). All of these have to do with financial growth and security in this life. Yet there are certain investments we are to make that are spiritual in nature, and these are most important. In this series, we are going to discuss some of these investments we are to make. In this first lesson, we are going to consider the value of the soul.
Natural Desire for Self-Preservation
- Jesus talked of one who “wishes to save his life” – this is a natural inclination (God made us this way); this is how we can properly love our neighbor (Matthew 22:39); this explains how the husband is to treat his wife (Ephesians 5:28-29)
- Yet to follow Christ, we must do something that is unnatural – deny self; be willing to lose our life
- Why would we do this? – if we are only looking at this life, it does not make sense; Jesus wants us to look beyond this life; to “find” our life (eternal), we must deny self and sacrifice
Warning of an Overly Ambitious Attitude
- Jesus spoke of an ambitious individual who hoped to gain “the whole world” – yet it was ultimately meaningless if he “forfeits his soul“
- We need to have a degree of ambition – motivates us to work hard (2 Thessalonians 3:10; Ecclesiastes 9:10; 11:6); Jesus was not condemning ambition, but the attitude of never being satisfied and always wanting more
- Ambition is good IF it is tempered by contentment (Philippians 4:11-12) – Paul was a hard worker (2 Thessalonians 3:8); yet he was also content with poverty if that was what he had to endure
- The parable of the rich land owner described one with an overly ambitious attitude (Luke 12:18-19) – his diligence and prosperity were not wrong; instead, he foolishly neglected the condition of his soul
The Value of One’s Soul
- Our soul was created by God (Gen. 2:7; cf. Hebrews 12:9) – one day our spirit will return to Him (Ecclesiastes 12:7); it is valuable to Him and it should be to us as well
- The price of redemption shows how valuable our soul is (1 Peter 1:18-19) – Jesus was God’s “only begotten Son” (John 3:16); yet He was willing to let Him die to redeem us
- Our soul is the only thing that no one can take from us – our possessions may be stolen (Matthew 6:19); yet our soul will be returned to God in the end (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
- Jesus’ question (Matthew 16:26) implies that our soul is more valuable than anything in this world; we need to conduct ourselves with this understanding
What Happens If We Forfeit Our Soul?
- “What will a man give in exchange…?” – there will be nothing we could give to redeem it; even IF we could gain the whole world, so what? … it will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10)
- If we lose our soul, we will face eternal destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 10:28) – whatever “good” we enjoyed in this life will be over (Luke 16:25)
Conclusion
- One day, the Lord will return in judgment – we will be repaid according to our deeds (v. 27)
- We need to be ready – do not risk losing your soul for the things of this life
- If we want to make a wise investment, we must recognize the value of our soul and follow God’s will to save it
