Do you like to find a real bargain? I love when I find something of great value at a discounted price. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. I don’t like to pay full price for anything if I can help it.
My grandmother and I used to have a running competition to see who could get the best deal on something. Our only rule was it had to come from a retail store, not a thrift store or yard sale.
I remember when I was in high school, I bought 3 pair of workout shorts (similar to the Nike ones that are so popular today) for $0.17. The store wanted to clean out the inventory to make room for a new shipment. She never beat that record. I have forever held the bargain queen title.
The value of anything depends on what someone is willing to pay for it. There was a man in England who discovered an old painting in his attic. It had been left by the previous home owners. He liked it so he hung it in his house. His neighbor came over and saw the picture and loved it. He offered him $200 in exchange for the painting. Sold!
The new owner of the painting hung it in his house proudly. He had a friend over for dinner to show off the painting. His friend worked in an art museum so he knew the painting would be appreciated. The friend offered $2000 for the painting. Sold!
The gentleman took it to the museum to have someone look at it for him and tell him if they knew anything about the painting. The museum offered the man $200,000 for the painting. Needless to say, the man agreed.
The museum later put the painting in an art auction and an unknown Japanese bidder bought the painting for $2,000,000. Remember, the value of anything is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it.
Over 2000 years ago, God determined your value by what He was willing to pay for you. He paid with His very life. John 15:3 says, “Greater love had no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
God did not ever want to be separated from you. His plan was for you to be in the Garden of Eden with Him forever [Genesis 1-3]. Mankind messed up God’s plan [Genesis 3:24] but God couldn’t stand the thought of being separated from us forever, so He sent His Son to die to reconcile us back with Him [John 3:16].
What value do you place on God? The way you live your life and the choices you make demonstrate the value you place on Him and your relationship with Him. What are you willing to pay?