Selling our souls.

Thought for the day

You may have read this unusual story that was reported through the AFP news organization several years ago:

A 24-year-old man in Shanghai tried to sell his soul on China's most popular auction website and managed to get 58 bids before operators pulled his ad. The man posted his announcement on Taobao (a site similar to eBay) last week asking a starting price of 10 yuan ( 1.23 US dollars). But the company decided that selling one's soul was inappropriate and deleted the ad on Friday. By then there were 58 bids from people with the highest at 681 yuan (84 dollars). "We pulled down the posting because we think only God can control souls," said Taobao's public relations manager Tao Ran.

Why would a man agree to sell his soul for as little as a dollar and a quarter? The truth is, I'm not all that surprised because I know of others who were willing to sell their souls for a measly amount. Judas was willing to do it for thirty pieces of silver. For Achan (Joshua 7), it was a robe, five pounds of silver and a bar of gold. For Elisha's servant (I Kings 5), it was 150 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing. For Esau, it was a bowl of soup.

If you're willing to be even more honest, you know that there are people all around you who have sold their souls for something of little value. Maybe you've even done it yourself. Maybe you've spent so much time making money to gather "the finer things of life" that you have no time or energy left for God. Maybe you've cheated others (like the tax man or health insurance companies) thinking they'll never miss it and no one will ever be the wiser. Maybe your desire for riches has clouded your judgment and caused you to do something that has damaged your integrity.

Jesus once said, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

The question was intended to be rhetorical. There's nothing in this world (nor everything in the world combined) that begins to equal the value of your soul. Bill Gates and all of his fellow billionaires don't have enough money to even make an opening offer. So, don't ever put a price tag on your soul. Not on eBay. Not in your workplace. Not in your daily life.

Verses

Matthew 17:20

"Because you have so little trust," he told them. "I assure you, if you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would be able to say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible for you.

Exodus 23:25

Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

2 Chronicles 7:1

Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

Romans 8:31

What then are we to conclude in view of all this? If God is for us, who is against us?

Prayer

Father, the story that Jesus shares about the rich man who took no thought for his life after death is a picture of so many who live for the here and now. They store up treasures that don’t transfer to eternity and dismiss the truths that do prepare us for eternity. May this illustration bring comfort and peace of heart to those who suffer in this present life, as Lazarus did. May they be reminded of the joyous life yet to come where there is no pain, sorrow, or alienation? And help us to be faithful to warn others to prepare not just for this temporal life, but for eternal life. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.