More Precious than Gold (the Value of the Soul)

Introduction

1. There are so many blessings in this life God esteems more valuable than gold. Some of these are:

Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

Psalms 119:72 – “The Law from your mouth is more precious to Me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”

Proverbs 16:16 – “How much better to get wisdom than gold; to choose understanding rather than silver.”

Proverbs 8:10-11 – “Choose My instruction instead of silver; knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Psalms 119:127-128 – “Because I love your commands, more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.”

Psalms 19:9-10 – “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever, the ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.”

2. But, Take into consideration the one thing that is most valuable to God: - The Human Soul.

Mark 8:36, 37 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain  the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his own soul?”

People of the World (Worldly People) do not understand the value of the Soul.

The Bible warns that even Satan himself believes that Man will give anything for his life – including his faith. Job 2:4 “And Satan answered the Lord, and said, ‘Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.’ ” Satan is going to try to get you to believe that as well.

We MUST therefore value our Soul ever above our own Life!

Discussion “Why is the Soul Valuable?”

          1. The Soul is constant, the Body is temporal.

The Soul is eternal – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Our Life is temporal – James 4:14 – “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.”

Which should we place value in, that which will be with us forever, or that which shall pass away?

Consider which one Jesus prefers – Matthew 5:29– “And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out and cast it from you: for it is better that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body be cast into Hell.”

Consider which does the Father prefers – Ecclesiastes 12:7 – “Then shall the dust return to the Earth as it was: and the Spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

The Soul is God’s Unique Creation.

          1. Man is made in the image of God – Genesis 1:26-27     Genesis 2:7

2. God recognizes the Soul at time of conception – Psalm 139:14-16 – “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

The Cost of the Soul Proves It’s Worth

1. Sin separates Man’s Soul from God – Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have separated between you  and your God, and you sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”

2. There is nothing on Earth that can buy a Man’s soul, nor is there anything that can redeem it once it has been separated from the Father.

3. What then, can make it possible for Man’s Soul to be bought back from the world of sin?

4. Romans 5:6-8 -  “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some of us would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

5. 1 Peter 1:18-20 – “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the World, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Conclusion

“For what shall a man profit, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

What would you be willing to give for the salvation of you Soul?

Jesus Christ gave his very life for yours – now is the time to do the same for Him. – 1 Peter 1:7 – “That the genuineness of your Faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

  Invitation