Luke 15:24 (KJV)
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
I’m thinking of how little value we sometimes place on things of great value.
The shepherd loses a sheep but rejoices when it is found.
I have raised animals for the better part of my life:
- Horses
- Sheep
- Pigs
- Chickens
- Quail
- Cattle
- Cats
- Dogs
A fact of farming and ranching is that animals are lost. If a person doesn’t have the fortitude to keep them healthy and the heart to expect some losses, animals aren’t for them.
But no cattleman wants to lose an animal. They are valuable for food, for income, and, frankly, they are just plum enjoyable to be around.
The woman loses her coin but rejoices when it is found.
We live in such a wealthy society in the United States that this can be challenging for us to comprehend. Frankly, there are very few coins we can imagine having much worth.
But remember the woman who cast in two pence, and it was all her living? This coin could easily have constituted a year or more’s income. It could have been a tenth of all she expected to possess for the remainder of her life. It could have been, in her world, irreplaceable.
And that brings us to the prodigal.
Having little value for animals or income, it is hardly surprising that there would be some who place little value on people and relationships.
We’re living today in a time when whether a baby’s life has value is considered a legitimate debate. People who think of themselves as bright, educated, moral, and honest are willing openly to demand that abortion should not only be legal but is, in many cases, the most moral thing to do. After all, if the baby’s life is an inconvenience, wouldn’t it be unfair to force that child to live in surroundings where he is considered so?
Of course, we Christians are appalled at such thinking.
But are we not guilty of the same kind of heart when we take such a casual view of the eternal soul as to debate whether Christians ought to witness or not? Haven’t we become callous to the value of the soul when we refuse to participate in missions giving or outreach events in our church?
Value! Rejoice whenever it is restored!
#ValueOfASoul #LostAndFound #Luke15v24 #ReachTheLost #DailyVisitwithGod
Sheep, Silver, and Souls: The Way We See Value
What do you value enough to seek, protect, and rejoice over when it is restored? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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