Self-care is an important priority for many people today. We are all encouraged to promote and protect our physical, mental and emotional well-being and happiness, especially during periods of stress. In one of his sermons however, William Guthrie challenged people as to whether they really prioritised the most valuable things about themselves — their souls. If we really valued our souls, his point was, we have a funny way of showing it. Contrasting with the slapdash treatment we give our souls is the immense care that the Lord Jesus took over them. In the following updated extract from his sermon, William Guthrie points out the great lengths that Jesus Christ went to, in the interests of our souls. His text was Matthew 16:26: “For what is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Christ has been urging the company that were hearing Him, and His own disciples also, to sacrifice themselves for the truth, at all hazards. In these words He uses a double argument. The one is, What are you profited, if you should gain the whole world, and lose your own soul for worldly gain? The truth is, you are a perfect and an absolute loser. It cannot be told what loss you have, and how bad a bargain you have made. The other is, If you pawn or pledge your soul for this, you will not be able to set it free again at your own pleasure. The text says, “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

How does Jesus show He values our souls?

Christ Jesus values the human soul at a very high rate; for He has calculated that He sets the whole world at nought in comparison to one soul. He says, “Though a man should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, he is a perfect and an absolute loser.” “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” Christ said this to the man who had enlarged his barns, and provided nothing for his soul. Christ values the souls very much. How does He show it?

The care He took in devising the gospel

That glorious contrivance of the gospel speaks forth what a high esteem God puts upon the souls of men. Great has been the work and business of its contrivance, in order that His will may be revealed and made known to men: all is done with a design to save the soul. And if there were no more to speak of Him than the Bible, it sufficiently shows how He values and esteems the souls of men. He can make thousands of worlds at one word; and yet He has taken much pains in contriving a way how to deal with men’s souls, and about that great and glorious business of man’s redemption.

The depths He stooped down to

This also says that Christ values the soul much, that He took on Him our nature, and subjected Himself very low, for such unworthy worms of the earth. None knew how to value the soul except Christ. He knows what it cost Him. In all the great revolutions of the world, He has a principal regard to the soul. There is not an up or down; a dethroning of kings, or protectors,1 or princes, but it is done with an eye to the good of the soul. He carrieth on some things in order to the good of the souls of men. If there were no more but the keeping up a standing ministry, and the vindication of that ordinance which He keeps up at a great expense, it shows that He values the souls of men at a very high rate.

The interest He takes in individuals

Let us come and take notice of another evidence just at hand. Consider the particular care that He takes of particular persons; even a poor boy or girl. He will be speaking unto them, rebuking, exhorting, comforting, instructing them particularly, and singularly; waiting upon their ups and downs; to ratify the thoughts of their hearts, as if He had no other thing to do; though He has great kingdoms and sceptres besides to rule. All this shows how highly He values the souls of men.

Why are souls so precious?

Now what are the reasons of this doctrine? It is not because of any good works we can do unto Him. Rather, the reasons include these.

Souls carry His image

It is because He values the souls of men, at least comparatively with other things, as more glorious pieces of His handy-work than any other thing in this lower world. These glorious luminaries, the sun, moon, &c., are nothing to the soul. All the pleasant things that you ever saw, even heaps of gold, and silver, and streets garnished with pearls or precious stones, are nothing in comparison to a rational soul. There was never anything made upon earth that bore the image of God so eminently and singularly as the soul. And this is one reason why the Lord values the soul so much; because it doth represent Himself more than any other creature upon earth.

Souls display His mercy

The Lord values the soul of man very much, because He carrieth on His work by the soul more than by any other thing. He gives the most glorious displays of His power and mercy, by the souls of men. He proves Himself Lord over heaven, earth, and hell, by the souls of men. And,

Souls are precious

I may say, the Lord values the soul much, because it is of the highest concernment. And this is one of the reasons God lays so much weight upon it; “For the redemption of the soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever.”

How much do we value our own souls?

What use then can we make of this doctrine? God loves the soul so much, and we value it so little. It shows us that we differ exceedingly in our thoughts from the Lord. He has put a high esteem on the soul, and we do not esteem it much. And therefore it shows our lack of conformity to Him; since He values the soul so much, and we value it so little. But you will say, “I value the soul very much, and will do anything for it!” Well, if you do put a high price upon your souls, it will be apparent. You can test it as follows.

Thinking of our souls

Test whether you have any serious thought concerning your soul. Do you value your soul much, if you have never a thought of them to see what case and condition they are in, and what will become of them in the end? Do you dare to say, in the sight of an all-seeing God, that you have had serious thoughts of your soul, and of what will become of it in the end? If you dare not say that, your value for your soul is a fancy indeed. And I put it to you all, this day, you who hear me, that if you ever had deep thoughts concerning your soul’s case and condition, answer me about it. You who cannot answer in the affirmative, you are not far from the wrath and vengeance of God. You that throw your souls at your heels, and undervalue them, and spend more time and pains on the poor perishing things of the world, can you expect to be called Christians? Nay, rather limbs of the devil, worldly worms, and moles of the earth.

Making an effort for our souls

You cannot value your soul much, if you make no endeavours for your soul. You can tell every year how much progress you have made with your work, that you have now got your oat seed, or your barley seed into the ground. But what have you done for your soul? Surely every one must give an account to the God of heaven for their soul. I dare boldly say that some of you lay more weight on six or seven steps of a rig’s end to sow a little flax seed on, than ever you did on your precious and immortal souls. [A rig is a piece of land.]

Refusing to take risks with our souls

How much do you value your soul if, for a thing of nought, for a very little, or for a frivolous thing, you will risk the wrath of God? You will swear and profane the name of the Lord for a thing of nought. You will lay down your soul against twopence, as if I were to throw down my gold ring, and play it against a few pennies — that’s how you take a risk on the wrath of the Almighty for a trifle.

Giving priority to the needs of our souls

Consider too, what other things come in competition with the soul. Here is something that concerns the soul —there is something that concerns the world. I refer it to your own conscience, which gets the first place. Here is a thing that concerns the soul, but you are called to yoke the plough. Now lay your hand on your heart, and judge whether you value your soul or the world most, and look which of these gets the priority.

Listening to God’s warnings

How much do you value your soul? You can hear threatenings concerning the destruction and ruin of your soul, and yet never be affrighted or alarmed. There is no need of greater evidence that you don’t value your soul, when you are saying, “Let threatenings go the same way as they came,” and when you are never alarmed, nor affrighted, and when you can hear the ruin of your soul threatened a thousand times in one day, and never be moved more than the timber or stones of these walls. If this describes you, you have no reason to think that you value your soul very much. Your need is to lay your soul’s case and condition to heart.

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