What is One Life Worth?
How much is one life worth? The answer depends upon whom you ask. Loving parents would say that you cannot put a price on it. Others, however, would disagree.

A mother who has just committed abortion answers the question with her actions. The life of her unborn child is not worth more than her convenience and freedom. The doctor who performs the wicked deed indicates that the life of an unwanted child is not worth more than a few hundred dollars for the procedure. A drunk who drives and kills people on the road tells us that no other life is worth more than his love for alcohol. A medical insurance company implies that no one's life is worth more than the lifetime cap of their coverage.

But, what do the Scriptures say regarding the value of a human life?

Our Lord declared in Matthew 16:25,26 - "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Clearly, the value of one's soul is priceless. In God's eyes, one soul is worth more than all the possessions and wealth the world has to offer.

God the Father showed just how much He loved mankind when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to the cross in order to atone for our sins! The terribly high price that was exacted shows, without a shadow of a doubt, the depth of God's love for each of us. Jesus was willing to lay down His life for you and I. If that doesn't show the value of one's soul, I don't know what will! God regarded human life as so valuable that He sacrificed His innocent Son for us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (I John 2:2).

Dear friends, how do you value your life? What is it really worth? God's price for us was Jesus' life. Our price for God must be our lives. The apostle Paul declared in II Corinthians 5:14,15 - "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."

Our existence must be dedicated to God first and foremost (cf. Matt. 6:33). This is the only way the fullest potential value of a human life can be realized. Selfish living results in forfeiting true life, but humble living that seeks to serve God and man above self will be blessed with true life from God (both now and in the realm beyond).

God values your life greatly. Are you reflecting that great value He has invested by the way you live each day?

My thanks goes out to Andrew Swango, a dear brother and friend, who submitted ideas for this devotional.