How much are you worth?Someone has estimated that the sum of all the elements within a human body is worth about $4.50, but a human being is worth much more than a collection of elements.Some people estimate their own worth by how much money and property they possess, but "not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).Still others judge the worth of a person by what that person can do, how much education he has, what he has accomplished, how well-known he is, who his parents are, or some other worldly measure of value.None of these are good ways of assessing the value of a person.
The true measure of your worth is understood by considering how much God is willing to pay for you.If you are a Christian, then you know what you are worth because "you have been bought with a price” (1Cor. 6:20).Your price of purchase was nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.This means that you were worth more than anything in the world, for "you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1Pet. 1:17-19).This purchase of God through Christ was "a propitiation in His blood through faith” (Rom. 3:24), and it was intended for the whole world.Indeed, the apostle John wrote that Christ "is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1John 2:2).This proves that every human being is highly valued in the eyes of God, "for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Because God loves you and values you so much, He is willing to purchase many blessings for you at the price of His Son’s blood.These blessings begin with redemption and forgiveness (Eph. 1:7), which means that God pays off the debt of your sins with the blood of His Son, purchases you out of the slavery of sin, and forgives you of every sin according to His gospel plan.By Christ’s blood, God reconciled you back to Himself (Col. 1:20), which means that He restored peace between Him and you.Christ’s blood also buys your justification (Rom. 5:9), which puts you in good standing before God, and your sanctification (Heb. 9:13-14; 10:29), which sets you apart in holiness for service to God.Christ’s blood even buys access for you unto God, for "you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13; see also Heb. 4:16).These are spiritual blessings that you may have right now through the price of Christ’s blood, and by this same price you may have eternal life in the future when life on earth is done.
In exchange for these blessings, God requires you to devote your life to His service.Notice again 1Corinthians 6:20 – "For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”When you accept the blessings of God through the blood of His Son, you must also accept God’s ownership of you."Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and…you are not your own” (1Cor. 6:19).The apostle Paul gave a good perspective on the life of a Christian in Galatians 2:20 – "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”When you are a Christian, God has purchased you out of slavery to sin and into slavery to Him in righteousness (Rom. 6:1-23).Do not misunderstand: Christ’s blood is the price that earned your salvation, but your service to God is a condition by which you may receive salvation (see Eph. 1:8-10; Jas. 2:14-26).
Therefore, glorify God in your body because God has paid an awesome price for you.If you are a Christian, then do only those things that bring glory to your Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who bought you and owns you.If you are not a Christian, then understand that no one values your life more than God.No one is worthless, and God has proved it by giving His Son as a sacrifice from the least in the world to the greatest.Won’t you value your own soul as much as God does?"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matt. 16:26)If you value your soul and would be purchased by Christ’s blood, then faithfully obey His gospel and become a part of the church that He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).
