It is said in the Gospel: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?!"

It is frightening to think how little we understand the worth of our immortal soul. To the body - that dwelling place of worms - we direct all our thoughts from morning to night, but to our immortal soul, that most precious and beloved of God's creations, hardly one thought is directed in an entire week.

The body is daily toasted with overflowing cups and sumptuous dishes, but the soul barely manages to collect the crumbs of the Divine word from the threshold of the house of God. The worthless body is washed, dressed, cleansed and decorated with all the treasures of nature and art, but our dear soul, the bride of Jesus Christ, the inheritor of Heaven, wanders about, dressed in the garb of a wretched beggar who receives no alms.

The body cannot bear a single blemish on the face, any dirt on the hands, any patch on the clothing; but the soul which is covered with filth from head to foot wanders from one sinful mire to another, and by its yearly and often hypocritical confession it only multiplies the patches on its clothing without renewing it.

Men are often prepared for all sorts of labours, but the poor soul has hardly one hour on Sunday to hear the Divine Liturgy, hardly a few minutes for morning and evening prayers.

For the health and preservation of the body, air and dwelling place are changed, the most learned and distant physicians are called, food and drink are refrained from, the most bitter medicines are taken, we allow ourselves to be burned and cut; but for the welfare of the soul, for the avoidance of temptations, not a single step is made. We remain in the same air, in the same evil company, in the very same sinful house, and we refrain from seeking the doctor of souls or we choose to hide from him that which is already known to both heaven and hell.

When the body dies, then weeping and despair are heard; but when the soul dies from mortal sin, we often do not even think about it.

Thus, we do not know the worth of our soul and, like Adam and Eve; we deliver it up for what seems to be a beautiful fruit. 

O most merciful Lord! Help us to despise all that which quickly passes away and to strive only for that which is necessary for the salvation of our souls. 

-- St. Ambrose of Optina