The Value of a Human Soul
By Miss Z. I. Davis
MEN highly prize the things of sense. They exert themselves to the utmost to obtain possession of material wealth. What great sacrifice and effort was made to enter the goldfields of California in '49, and to reach the Klondike in the twentieth century! There are those who count the yellow metal, the pearl, the diamond, of greater worth than their soul. They do not hesitate to risk life and limb that they may add to their bank-account. Indolence is to be despised. Effort is to be commended when it is rightly directed and when the motive is good. But we need to make proper estimates of things. Right here is one of the most difficult questions that confronts the followers of Christ. Jesus was brought face to face with this question. He has solved it for us; and if we will only let His solution be ours, we shall be able to live a well-balanced Christian life. "Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and to God the things that are God's." What is the most precious thing in the sight of God? — A human soul. There is not money enough in all the world to purchase it. The wealthiest man living has not property enough to redeem himself in God's sight. If all the precious things of earth, as silver, gold, gems, and pearls, were brought together and placed in the balance over against the soul, the soul would outweigh them all. The better Christians we are, the more precious will the soul appear in our eyes. God is no respecter of persons. Jesus Christ died so that "whosoever believeth on Him might not perish, but have everlasting life." The blood of Christ can cleanse the soul of the African, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Indian, the Siamese, the Korean, as well as the soul of the white man, if he will only believe. "What," asked Christ, "shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" "And what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" As we come to realize the value of a soul, we shall not only wait upon Christ for salvation, but we shall give ourselves to Him for service. We shall not rest content with having our souls saved, but we shall exert ourselves to the utmost that others, also, may be saved. Christ offers rich rewards to His servants. "They that turn many to righteousness" shall shine "as the stars forever and ever." All are familiar with the story of Hannah Lamond. Cradling her babe in the soft grass on the hillside, she went to work with the other women to help gather in the new-mown hay. Suddenly an eagle swept down from its nest in the dizzy crags far above, and snatching up her baby from the hillside, it flew away to its home in the rocks overhead. There was none brave enough to scale the cliffs and rescue the child. If no hand was put forth to save it, all knew that it must die a death too horrible for words. The mother love in that woman's breast scarcely saw the dangers ahead of her as she sprang to her darling's relief. Love cast out her fear, love gave wings to her feet, and guided her up the steep ascent where no human foot had ever ventured before. At last her babe was clasped in her arms once more. What in all this world was so precious to that mother as the tiny mite of living, breathing flesh and blood! For its safety, she counted not her life dear to her. For its return, she had taken her life in her hands, risked all, and God had blessed8her. If we want our souls filled with Christ's love for human souls, He will give it to us. Then we can go out and bring in the lost to Him. Then our hearts will be on fire with earnestness, and our words will not fall to the ground. THERE are many ways of giving. Some give freely; some grudgingly. Some give liberally; others stingily. Some give out of an abundance; others through self-denial, out of poverty. Some are constantly watching opportunities to give; others will even remain away from Sabbath services for fear calls will be made for money. Some boast of what they give; others prefer giving in secret. Some give until they and their families are deprived of many or all luxuries and even the necessities of life; others give nothing. They will accept a paper, a tract, or a book which you have paid for, without any thought of repaying you. They will sometimes go to church, and listen to a sermon which may have cost the pastor days of hard study to prepare, yet without any thought of assisting in his support. If you visit them, even at much expense, they will consider they have fully repaid you if they lay aside their daily labor a few moments to hear you talk — willing to receive, but unwilling to give. Yet we are told that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." There is a double blessing in giving; for we are promised that what we give we shall receive again. And as there is a blessing in giving, the giver secures a double blessing. But how shall we give? The Lord loves a cheerful giver. David says, "Of Thine own have we given Thee." Then we are not to regard giving as a sacrifice on our part. It is simply returning to God His own. He says, "Thy silver and thy gold is mine." Those who give with a pure motive are laying up treasures in heaven. It is placed to their account in Heaven’s Bank, and will be paid back with large interest. The investment is safe. The bank will never break, nor be robbed; for no thief will ever get near it. Our deposits are safe and our reward is sure.