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How valuable is the life of a human being? Is it of less value than a sports car? How about a pair of fancy shoes? Yet these are all things people have killed for!
by Bruce Gore
o you own a piece of gold, a rare coin or
an original painting? Have you given much thought to what makes
things valuable? What determines the value of something to you?
Normally we judge the value of property based on its functionality, rarity or how much a buyer would pay for it. Our needs and desires, or a combination of these, can all play a part in determining value.
If you had $100 in your pocket, what would you give for a drink of water right now? Probably nothing, because you're likely not thirsty, and less-expensive water is probably readily available in the kitchen or from a water fountain. But, if you were stranded in the desert and hadn't had a drink of anything for two days, your answer might be entirely different.
Some needs are more urgent and demanding than others. We all have a need to be loved. Yet survival is an even more basic human need. If you are sitting in your car, suddenly tottering on the edge of a bridge over a deep river after you've crashed through the protective fence, you will not be worrying that your wife didn't hug you that morning.
Have you ever heard of a contest in which an entrant can win a car if he is the last one in a group standing with his hand on the vehicle? Some people have remained standing for days because of a need or, in the case of this contest, a desire to win a prize.
Times change, tastes change, needs change, and cars and people generally depreciate with age. Yet some wine, whiskey, antiques and art appreciate with age.
Values change. A huge Syrian army besieged the ancient city of Samaria until the inhabitants suffered great famine behind their city walls. The situation was so critical that people were paying up to 80 silver shekels for the little flesh they could carve from the head of a donkey. Yet when God caused a panic among the Syrians and they fled leaving all their supplies and food, the cost of food plummeted. You can read about this in 2Kings 6:24 through 7:1-16, where the principle of supply and demand is so graphically illustrated.
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