by Vance Havner

I will say to my soul, Soul, …take thine ease. Luke 12:19

The rich fool was no fool as a farmer, he was a success. He was religious because he talked to his soul. So many seem not to know they have souls! But his clock was too slow. He said, “Many years,” but God said, “This night.”

He was never a bigger fool than when he told his soul to take it easy. No man ought ever tell his soul that. Too many souls are taking it easy. I do not believe in soul-sleeping after death, but plenty of souls are sleeping now.

The rich fool gave his soul the wrong advice. He put it on vacation. God does not give the soul a vacation, He gives it a vocation.

“Take it easy” is a familiar parting word nowadays which nobody heeds by relaxing and living sensibly in this age of stomach ulcers and aspirin tablets. But it is no proper word for our souls. Rather, “Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve and press with vigor on,” ought to be the theme song of stupefied saints at ease in Zion. And while the sinner orders his soul to take it easy he may gain the world but he loses his soul. He is forever damned because he took it easy and neglected so great salvation.

by Vance Havner