Corona Devo 2040

How much is one person's soul worth to us?

~~~

I'm a couponer.  I am a freebie-seeker.  I am a bargain-lover and if there is a BOGO (buy-one-get-one-free) bargain, then I am interested.  

I've just always been that way: I don't throw extra money around or overspend.

Unless Jesus is involved.

~~~

Getting my haircut the other day, I really connected with the hair stylist and we realized that we have children in the same grade at school!  We chattered, and (in a conversational way) I shared with her what God has been doing in our family's lives (college choices, health).  I also told her about the Christian fellowship group at our high school, and encouraged her to invite her child to attend.  

I'm not sure she took me that seriously, but I put the invite out there.  

When it came time to pay, I had a gift card (what a blessing!) for the haircut.  The gift card amount was $19.00 over my haircut amount.  When the stylist asked me the tip amount to include, my mind flashed to her child.  God nudged my thrifty heart to splurge on a soul.  

"Put the rest of the gift card amount toward your tip please", I told her happily.  

Her eyes locked with mine and I knew that she had done the $19.00 math.  That was way over half the cost of my haircut. 

"Are you sure?", she asked timidly. 

"Very sure", I said (and I was).  "But promise me that you will invite your son to our Christian group at the high school...they will love to have him!"  

She nodded vigorously and I knew that (this time) she took me seriously.

~~~

How much is one person's soul worth to us?

The $19.00 tip was God's idea all the way, as I am way too frugal to go that high.  But the joy in my heart as I left the beauty parlor confirmed that I would have doubled that amount if it meant that one more person might hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and spend their eternity in heaven with Him.   

It makes one reconsider (it made me reconsider)--what are we doing with our money?  Our treasures...our time today?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  ~Matthew 6:19-21  

If we are not spending ourselves and our resources (this doesn't just mean money!) for the Lord and to bring others closer to Him...what are we doing with our lives?

If all we are doing is accruing treasures on earth, but we are missing the true treasure, which is knowing God and sharing Him with others...then we are missing the mark: God's mark.  

God gave me a $19.00 wake-up call about this.

~~~

How much is one person's soul worth to us?

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  ~Matthew 16:26

I absolutely love a bargain and saving money, but the other day I had the unique experience of seeing how generosity could possibly open-our-door of influence over someone's heart for the Lord.  

Can we spare the grocery money to bake (or buy) treats for the weekly ministry gathering?  Yes.  
What if those muffins are what (initially) draws someone closer to Christ?  

Can we treat/host/sponsor/support someone in their efforts or missions for the Lord?  Yes.

If God lays someone/something on our heart...go for it.  

We can't give to every charitable cause, but have we prayed about donating to any charitable cause (including people and situations touching our own lives) lately?  

Maybe God is giving someone else (in addition to me) a $19.00 wake-up call too.  Are we listening?

What is God up to today?  And how can we join Him?

~~~

Here's a hint from the Lord today: none of the stuff that we are accruing will matter in (our) end.  We had better be quite sure of what will matter to God in the end:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. (32) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats...

(34) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (35) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, (36) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  

(37) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you...

(40) “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’   

(41) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (42) For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, (43) I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 

(44) “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 

(45) “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’  

(46) “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”  ~Matthew 25:31-32, 34-37, 40-46

~~~

God nudged my thrifty heart to splurge on a soul this week, and maybe God's nudging your heart too.  

He will let us know how.  He will let us know when.  And He will let us know who.  

And the "why" is easy: for His glory.  

How much is one person's soul worth to us?  Let Jesus get involved, and He will let us know.

Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com