What's a Person Worth?

A few years ago there was a true story about a man in New York City who was kidnaped. His kidnappers called his wife and asked for $100,000 ransom. She talked them down to $30,000.

The story had a happy ending: the man returned home unharmed, the money was recovered, and the kidnappers were caught and sent to jail. But, don't you wonder what happened when the man got home and found that his wife got him back for a discount? Calvin Trillin was the writer of this story. He imagined out loud what the negotiations must have been like: "$100,000 for that old guy? You have got to be crazy. Just look at him! Look at that gut! You want $100,000 for that? You've got to be kidding. He’s balding and I don’t know how many good years he has left. Cut me a break here. $30,000 is my top offer."

I’m guessing that there are many of you who can identify with the wife in that story, but for some reason I find myself identifying with the husband. Yeah, I fit the “old, gut, balding scenario, but it goes beyond that. I'd like to think if I were in a similar situation, there would be people who would spare no expense to get me back. I’d like to think that they wouldn't haggle over the price....they wouldn't say, 'Well, let me think about it.' I like to think that they would say, 'We'll do anything for you.'"

Now, many of you who receive this e-mail are dear friends who would say just that. Others of you, I’ve never met. My point, however, is bigger than you and I being acquaintances. My point has to do with the value of a human being. I know we’re all worth about $5 in mineral value, but what are people worth in “people value”? Why do we sometimes treat others rudely or even with mean attitudes?

I recently sat at a football game, surrounded by families with small children. Up the aisle comes a man screaming profanities at the top of his lungs. I asked him to please watch his mouth. He replied, “You watch YOUR mouth, Maynard!” I didn’t reply. 30 seconds later he said, “You got a problem with my language?” I replied, “The children do.” He immediately apologized and left our area.

I don’t have to agree with someone’s opinion or action to be nice to them. I could have shot back a few choice verbal shots at this guy, but I chose not to. Why? Because somewhere along life’s way this guy has been hurt by someone and now he’s taking it out on everyone. What he needs isn’t another smart mouth shooting verbal bullets at him, he needs someone to show him that he has value.

After all, isn’t that what God does for us? Scripture says that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. He could just condemn us, but instead He offers hope against all of the hurt in our lives.

I encourage you to look at people through different lenses this week. You know the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” What a crock! Broken bones heal, broken spirits need hope. You have the power to offer it to others........I encourage you to do so!