There is a turn of phrase which I despise.

“He was worth [numerical amount] dollars.”

It has a certain amount of usefulness in designating how much someone could cough up to ransom himself, but I hate the way it is worded, as though someone’s intrinsic worth is determined by the amount of money owned.

Beyond this, Psalm 49:6-9 makes it clear that no matter how rich you may be, you don’t have enough to ransom your soul. “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of their souls is costly.” You can’t buy yourself safe from death. There are circumstances where you may be able to waylay it a little, but it’s coming, gold or no gold. You’re stuck in the conundrum: what profit is it to gain even the whole world, and lose your own soul? (Matthew 8:36)

Thankfully, money is not the end. Psalm 49 goes on to say in verse 15, “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He will receive me.” Something more precious than all the gold and silver in the world has been paid for your ransom. “You were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold…but with the precious blood of Christ.”

You are not worthless. You are not worth fifty thousand dollars. You are not even worth a trillion dollars. You, as a being made in God’s image, are worth more. The only price that would pay your ransom is the precious blood of Christ, God the Son. It has been paid, and God is ready to receive you. The question is, are you ready to receive Him and be delivered from eternal death and your “aimless conduct” into His life and holiness? (1 Peter 1:15, 18) The end rewards are greater than any gold.