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The Thing That Matters Most 

     

     The thing that matters most may not be among the matters that take most of our time. While our possessions, accomplishments and physical attributes matter, our souls matter most.  

 

     Our souls matter more than our possessions. Jesus’ “Parable of the Rich Fool”told of “a certain rich man” whose crops yielded so plentifully that he had no room to store his harvest. The man’s thoughts were so consumed on his possessions that he planned to build bigger barns, store his bounty and live care free for many years (Luke 12:13-21). Tragically, Jesus explained, plans for his possessions superseded provisions for his soul. Our souls have greater value than our prized possessions. 

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     Our souls matter more than our accomplishments. Jesus taught His disciples by asking, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul” (Matthew 16:26)? This compelling question pierces the heart of the matter. Our souls are eternal, while our earthly accomplishments and achievements, no matter how lofty, are short-lived. It is expedient to engage in personal progress; but it is essential to nurture our souls.  

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     Our souls matter more than our physical attributes. Jesus boldly said, “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin” (Matthew 18:7). He elaborated by giving examples of a hand, a foot and an eye that cause us to sin. When we focus on immodestly exhibiting our physical attributes we lose sight of what matters most. When we engage ourselves in sinful things because they are satisfying to our senses we do so at the expense of our souls. 

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     These and other scriptural examples remind us that our souls matter most. Our possessions pale compared to the prominence of our souls. Our accomplishments are insignificant relative to the importance of our souls. Our physical attributes are vanity compared to the value of our souls.  Never should we let the things that matter most of the time matter more than that for which we can be held accountable at any time – our souls.

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     May God bless us to value our souls over every other matter and to live our temporal lives with our eternal souls in mind. May God bless the Schrader Lane Church of Christ.