What Is the Price?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 9, 1874

What Is the Price?

THERE is great competition for the soul of man. Satan wants it. To possess it here and destroy it forever is his desire. To this end he works diligently, unceasingly. In a thousand ways he approaches men, and, presenting numberless attractions, he seeks to accomplish his purpose; dealing with each one according to his leading propensities, he offers that which he thinks most certain to be eagerly accepted. What he offers is his price for a soul. Every man who does not “in deed and in truth” believe in, love, and obey, the Lord Jesus Christ, is selling his soul at some price, is bartering away his hopes of eternity. Very few, if any, think this is so; but the negotiation is in progress nevertheless, and must sooner or later be consummated. To delude such men and make them believe that no such serious transaction is taking place, is one of the tactics of the enemy. He that is wise will stop and think, and examine himself and his course, and endeavor to ascertain beyond question what must be the end of all that he is doing. If a man, on investigation, comes to know that he is endangering his soul, risking his prospects of a blessed eternity, he may well ask, What is the price of all this risk? What am I getting in return for it?

In this day there is perhaps no one thing that the adversary uses with more skill and success in luring men to their ruin than the idea that they may become rich. There is a terrible eagerness among all classes in all civilized countries to make wealth. Out of this eagerness have grown the insane speculations which have resulted in fearful financial disasters; out of it also have grown the wretchedly dishonest transactions which have ended in astounding defalcations and widespread ruin to thousands of innocent but confiding people. Men seem possessed with so intense a desire to secure riches, not gradually and in a strictly legitimate way, but in haste, that they will go to any lengths and run the greatest risks to satisfy their insane longing. But suppose a man having made up his mind to be rich, determined in doing so to refrain from all improper speculation. May such a man be accomplishing his purpose at the sacrifice of his soul? Yes, if he allow his purpose to so fill his heart as to shut out the love of God, and his labor, to so employ his powers as to prevent him doing that service which the Lord requires of every creature. Wealth may be made an instrument of great good and much glory to God. But great care needs to be taken lest in amassing it the soul be lost. Better be without, than in the eagerness to get it to run even the smallest risk of losing the love of God and the hope of Heaven. Desirable as it may be, the price is too great; “for what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul.”

That man drives a hard bargain who strives for riches, with the probability or even possibility of losing his soul as the price of his getting. At the best it can only be his for a little while. Toil and labor, thrift and diligence, will have to be bestowed upon its acquisition; he may have to encounter wearisome days and sleepless nights, before, the point of his desire is reached, and, after all, perhaps, fail to enjoy what has been hoarded up. The desire to heap up gains invariably diminishes the power of enjoyment, as is proved by the fact that wealthy men scarcely ever have inclination or power to enjoy what they have acquired. And then, none of the earthly treasures, however highly prized, can be carried into the next world. All must be left behind; and men must stand in the presence of God as poor as when they entered the world. They cannot, if one should wish, be used before dying, to purchase a title to the kingdom of Heaven, or to secure a seat there. Silver and gold are unavailing in such case.

Would you have true riches—enduring treasure? You may have them by going to Christ for salvation—riches which will never pass away. Do not sell your soul for the perishable things of this life; for they will yield you no permanent joy here, and they will not give you eternal joy. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” “Lay up your treasures in Heaven.”—Religious Intelligencer.