Mark 8:34-37 – Properly Value Your Soul

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

You should never put silver and gold over your life nor the lives of all those who are around you.

Today’s devotional reading: Mark 8:34-37

Do you truly appreciate and value your soul? If you truly valued your soul, then you would keep Christ’s word near to you. Jesus said that one should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness rather than desire the riches that those who are Gentiles in spirit labor for (Matt. 6:31-33).

Jesus asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” It is a question that speaks to the value of the world, but most importantly, the soul. Jesus’ statement is that the world is not of the same worth as the soul.

When God made mankind, He made mankind in His image, according to His likeness (Gen. 1:26). After forming mankind from the dust of the earth, Genesis 2:7 tells us that God breathed into mankind’s nostrils the breath of life, and mankind became a living soul. Nowhere in Scripture will we read that God breathed into any other life form His breath, which means mankind’s soul is truly valuable. Mankind’s soul is so valuable that God gave His only begotten Son to atone for the soul of sinful man.

IF God places such a value on our souls, shouldn’t we place the same value on our own soul? Don’t give up your soul for a world that is not equal in value. Jesus said that this world will perish, but your soul does not have to perish (Matt. 6:19-21)! As you live, always remember that your soul is more valuable than silver and gold.