Just to give more context to your post, I hope you aren’t saying that we completely shouldn’t care about 99 just persons:
He says there would be *more* joy over one sinner that repents - not that the ninety nine just persons weren’t precious and valuable - not that there is *no* joy from good men. Do you think God doesn’t value goodness?
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
...now back to the original reference:
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, *more* than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Emphasis added, but all the words are from the original text)
And why would he say this, if repentance is the one thing that is most valuable?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Why on earth would one give diligence to something that’s worth very little and that costs so very much?