What the Soul Was Made For

The apostle Paul was an excellent man, and had excellent privileges to glory in. Oh but, said he, 'I account all dung and dross in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Christ' (Phil. 3:8). Our blessed Saviour, who was the most able of all to judge, he would have all 'sold for the pearl.' He would have us sell all to be a part of the kingdom of heaven. When Martha and Mary entertained Jesus, Mary sat at his feet to hear him expound the truth of God; Christ said, 'one thing is necessary,' and 'she chose the better part' (Luke 10:42). 'One thing have I desired,' said David (Psa. 27:4). All things in comparison to that are not necessary; they may well be set aside.
From this we learn what our souls were made for. What more could our souls be made for than to dwell in the meditation of the beauty of God. What are our souls made for but for excellent things? What is excellent but that which is about the truth of God in the gospel? Is the soul made to study debates and attacks between man and man in our own personal vocations? Is the soul made to get a little wealth, that we will leave perhaps to an unthrifty generation after? Are our souls, which are the most excellent things under heaven; they are the price of the blood of the Son of God, and in his judgment the world is not worth a soul--are they for these things? No! They are for union and communion with God through the truth of the gospel, to grow in nearer communion with God by his Spirit, to have more knowledge and affection, more love and joy and delight in the best things daily. Our souls are for these things that will make us gracious here, and glorious forever after in heaven. It is a great disordering, when we study and care only for earthly things, and have slight concern of those things that are incomparably the best things, in the judgment of God and of Christ himself, and of all good men.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
A Breathing after God, Works, vol. 2, pp. 245-47
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