“For you were bought with a price.” (1 Cor.6:20 ESV)
The maiden’s price paid in camels
I heard an old story, supposedly true, about a rich young man in a far eastern country who was making arrangements with a young maiden’s father to marry her. Marriages in that country were always arranged and based solely upon the prospective groom’s ability to pay the required dowry (the price for her). The dowry was usually paid with camels. An average maiden would usually be valued at one to two camels, an above average one would be two to three camels, and an exceptional one could be as much as four camels, tops! But, a four-camel maiden would have to be exceptionally beautiful and would have to possess many other valuable skills and attributes, to ever be worth that much.
Nine camels!
The young man met with the father and said, “I offer you nine camels for your daughter!” Nine camels! This amount was unheard of! No one had ever paid more than four camels for a bride before! And this man was offering to pay nine camels for his daughter! The father immediately accepted the offer and was thrilled to receive such a high dowry amount for his daughter! He then set out to publicly announce the upcoming marriage along with the amount that was paid. Nine camels!
The story soon spread far and wide.
People asked, “Who is this remarkable woman, who is worth so much? She must be exceptionally beautiful! She must be an extraordinary woman in every possible way, far above any other!”
Everything changed for the bride to be!
The father said, “I must have failed to notice how beautiful, wonderful, and valuable my daughter is. But not anymore! From now on, she will be treated as royalty in my home! She will sit at my right hand, the best place at my table! She will be served first. She will be given the best food. She will be clothed in the finest garments. All her needs and wishes will be taken care of by my servants.” Everyone in her village began to treat her differently, too. When she would arrive, people would say, “Here comes the beautiful nine-camel woman!” And they would admire her! Instantly she became valuable! The maiden was the same person as before, yet everything had changed for her! In an instant she became valuable. It was because of the price that was paid for her!
The highest price was paid for you!
In the same way, you have been bought with a price! (1 Cor. 6:20). And that price is the most valuable payment that has ever been paid! You have been paid for “with the precious blood of Jesus Christ”! (1 Peter 1:19).
Therefore…
YOU are valuable because of the price that was paid!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” (Eph. 2:8 ESV)
“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV)
“Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matt. 19:31 ESV)
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14 ESV)