Bookstores have changed a lot in the last fifty years. Slowly, sections devoted to Bibles and Christian theology became shelves and then the sections were renamed religion and usually placed in a back corner. The more popular, growing section of the store has been labeled “self-help.”

The author of Proverbs 19:8 would not understand the need for that division in the bookstore. He taught: “Whoever gets sense loves his own soul.” If we really want to help ourselves, we should love our souls more than our earthly lives. Our souls will live in heaven with our new bodies and our lives will be eternal. If we have good sense, we will live this life for the sake of our souls.

How do we invest in our souls while living here on earth? We continue to understand our eternal priorities and continue to discover all that is good, all that is of God. The best “self-help” book is the Bible itself because it teaches us how to live a life God is able to bless now, and especially for all eternity.

We all know the verse that teaches us to store up treasure in heaven, but it requires a conscious effort to understand that the value of our earthly lives is a result of investing in eternal priorities. If we make that effort, we will “discover good” and enjoy doing those things that make us right with God.

We will never be finished living for God until we finally live with God. Good advice and careful instruction provide wisdom. We are wise to care for our own souls by gaining the wisdom of God and carefully living under the wise instruction of his truth. That’s how we store treasure in heaven and live this life for the sake of our life eternal.