Who wants to be a millionaire?

Remember the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? How about "Deal or No Deal?" In both shows contestants hope to strike it rich by beating the odds to make millionaire status. My personal favorite is Deal or No Deal.

For those unfamiliar, in Deal or No Deal, a contestant picks a case from a set of 22, each containing a different amount of money, and then proceeds to open other cases to reveal their contents. After each round of opening cases, the "Banker" offers a deal, asking the contestant to accept the offer and take the money or continue playing, hoping to win a higher amount in their chosen case. In the end the contestant hopes his or her case has a million dollars in it; or that they negotiate a deal with the banker for money that exceeds the amount in their case. I like this show because even though it's a game, the themes of risk and value are ever present. I've often put myself in the contestant's shoes thinking 'would I be willing to risk the amount I've been offered for a chance to get something even more valuable?'

I have found in life the price someone is willing to pay for a thing indicates how they value the thing. For example, I have a friend who is very successful on Wall Street. She told me for 12 straight years, for six days a week she worked from 9am to 1am. That is a high price to pay! She valued making it where she is today and was willing to pay the price to get there. Now she's a millionaire! My wife and I are so proud of her achievement. She has made it to rare air reaching a height that few have been willing to ascend. The reality is, not many were willing to pay the price she paid, and as a result did not make it to her position. Perhaps others didn't quite value the climb. Again, price indicates value. Here's an example:

If I came to you and took a piece of plain white paper out of your hand and threw it in the ocean you wouldn't bat an eye. If I came to you and grabbed your iPhone (or android if you are a holdout like me. hehe) and threw it the ocean you would probably gasp and be greatly bothered. But if I came to you and grabbed your wedding ring and threw it in the ocean, you might scream or perhaps throw me in the ocean also! Why the difference? Because the value of an item is often tethered to the price one has paid for it.

This is easter week, and today marks the day that Judas set the price for what he thought Jesus Christ was worth. He betrayed and traded the Son of God, the Preeminent One, the Creator of the universe, and the Savior of the world away for a measly 30 silver coins! If this were Deal or No Deal, Judas' deal is the worst deal in the history of the universe.

On the other hand, God's price is always right. And this week marks the moment in which He demonstrated how much value He places in you. It would be one thing for Him to have paid a million dollars for you: another for him to buy you with a billion. Instead, He paid for you with the precious blood of His Only begotten Son. Further, Isaiah 53:10 tells us "It pleased God to crush Him." This trade tells us that you are infinitely valuable to God.

So, what value do you place on Him? Another way of asking this is what price are you willing to pay for Jesus? Now certainly there is no exchange rate or price any human can pay that come close to the value of God Himself. The only reasonable response is 'everything' - and then some. He is truly worth everything and is worthy of it all!

Life is certainly no gameshow. If you belong to God, it means you have accepted the trade of His payment for your sins and received His forgiveness and eternal life. This is the good news of the price He paid through His death, burial and resurrection for YOU! If you have said 'yes' to this offer you likely realized that true riches are in Christ alone. Luke 12:15 says "a man's life consists not in the abundance of things he possesses." In other words, your life isn't found in possessions but in a Person - His name is Jesus Christ; and you are well beyond a millionaire having Him!

I'd love to hear how this thought is relevant for you today; or how these thoughts after being put into action have helped you navigate your journey with others and with Jesus!