How do you put a value on human life?
The current COVID 19 pandemic has brought many issues sharply into focus. One question is how to control the disease, without destroying the economy? Already in the UK over 40,000 lives have been lost and the Government is billions of pounds in debt. As some people are facing bankruptcy in their businesses, others are worried for their lives, their health or those of loved ones. It is too simplistic to say that ‘human life is more important than money; we must save lives at all cost’. An economic crash would lead to widespread poverty with its own toll on health and the quality of life. So, restaurant managers want the social distancing to be cut to one metre even though the medical scientists say that increases the spread of the virus. Airlines want to let people into the country without the two week’s quarantine. No wonder we need to pray for our Government – they have to make difficult decisions that affect us all.
Science can tell us how amazing a human being is. There is nothing to compare to a person in the known universe. We have an incredible set of senses and an astounding brain to process them. We can make beautiful music, paint incredible pictures and study the universe from the tiniest atom to the biggest star. No wonder the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 139:14, that we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’!!!
READ: Psalm 8 and Psalm 139
So, how do you put a value on human life? Without God we might simply say that we value a life by how much a person contributes; and in the current climate, I would say, and I hope that you would agree that, ‘all lives matter’. And that, I believe is how God looks at us – from the aborted foetus to the tragedy of a person who commits suicide, to those whose life is cut short through accident or illness – God values us all the same. John 3:16 reminds us that ‘God so loved the world’….. No one is outside of His love!
The Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Corinth:
‘God paid such a high price for you’.
1 Cor. 6:20 – The Message
If you ever wondered if you were of value or not, can I suggest you take a look at the Cross and there you will find the answer!