Matthew 16:26 – “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  NASU

1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  NASU

I have had people insist that the church is to be a hospital for the hurting but I want to suggest it is to be more than a hospital. I would like to suggest that being a hospital is not the primary objective but to be a soul spa, gymnasium, rehab center and university of life.  I believe that it is to be a place of healing but beyond that it is to be a place where the spiritual man is developed to its fullest potential.  That, in my view, is not the picture of a hospital.  If we spend all our time doctoring wounds we are not accomplishing the purposes of God.  If we are to be the Glorious Church that Jesus said He was building then we must rise to our full potential and development in Christ.

In the natural a baby has the capacity to interrelate with the physical world through the sense of hearing but for that capacity to become fruitful it requires time and maturity for that baby to understand what he/she has heard.  Each of us requires time and effort to become fully developed and remain healthy naturally and spiritually.  The inner man requires care just like the outer for health and life.

Sadly, sometimes we view success in the church in terms of ‘nickels & noses’ and that will only produce frustration and fatigue not health and life.  Many are dissatisfied with their religious life and experience and I heard one preacher say, “God I believe in you and the Lord Jesus Christ but if there is not any more to this than what I have discovered thus far I’m quitting at the end of the year.”  There are too many people frustrated in their experience.  They are not deliberate hypocrites but do not know how to change or grow.  The Christian walk, to them, is a constant struggle and they end up wearing masks to hide their frustration but inside they are struggling daily.

We like formulas and sometimes substitute them for development and experience.  Christianity cannot be reduced to a formula but requires work, development, commitment and results in growth in the inner man.   Having said all that let me ask the question of the title and address that briefly.  Have you ever really asked God what He thinks of you?  Have you ever asked Him how much you are worth?  Do it now! 

To God you are worth as much as God Himself.  Why or how can I say that?  Simply because worth is determined by the price paid for it.  In your natural life have you noticed that if something is valuable you take much better care of it than something that is inexpensive?  The word in the text is ‘forfeit’ (zemios) not (appolumi) which would be lost sheep alienated from God this is forfeiture and indicates ‘damage’. 

 I want you to quickly consider eight ways for the determination of worth:

• Who made it.
• What was made.
• Uniqueness or Scarcity.
• Personal preference and choice.
• Potential worth or value.
• Price Tag.

             God made you and that in His own image so you are a unique one of a kind original.  God chose you and called you and you are an eternal soul.  Your soul’s health brings practical benefit here and now and you were purchased at a great price – The Blood of Jesus!

So how much is your soul worth?   The Blood of Jesus!   So with that in mind go forth as whose you are and in the worth God has placed on you!  Blessings!