Let’s look at two scriptures in the Bible:
Genesis 37:28 So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
Matthew 26:14 Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him.
In these two scriptures, we find two profound individuals practically sold for silver by people that they not only trusted but were most accompanied with. How many times are we sold by our friends or family and we never expected it from them? Fair enough, Jesus definitely expected it because He knew the future as well as the fulfilment of prophecy. But the audacity is that Jesus was given a price tag!
There’s a story I’ve heard before about a shop that was secretly broken into at night. the intruders didn’t break in with the intention to steal but to rearrange the price tags. The customers were astonished at their bargains but the cashiers had no clue of what was going on. Sometimes, circumstances or people can place price tags on us without us even knowing. This price tag can become a limit for us especially when we want to do great things for God.
You have price tags like:
Your bad past
Your bleak future
Your critical illness
Your disappointing failure
Your captivating addiction
Your empty loneliness
All these price tags are like labels that prevent us from living the life that God wants us to live. And just like that, we stand at a fork in the road. One tells us to listen to the opinions of people and the other, the Truth of Gods word. The choice remains up to you. The worse thing is when we choose to believe the price tag.
Your price tag says your past is bad but 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Your price tag says that your future is bleak but Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.
Your price tag says that your sickness is critical but Isaiah 53:5 says: But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed.
Your price tag says that your failure is disappointing but Romans 8:28 says: And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Your price tag says that your addiction has you captivated but John 8:36 says: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Your price tag says your loneliness makes you feel empty but Hebrews 13:5b says “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
People can try to get rid of you but they can’t get rid of your purpose. You are here for a reason, don’t let people stop you from doing what God has planned for you. Those who betrayed Joseph and Jesus always regretted it. The only problem we face is when we choose to believe the price tag. Your worth is found in Christ, not in other people. It was Jesus who died for you, no one else. His blood is what makes you precious, nothing else.
You will never find a price tag on something that’s priceless.