What Is Your True Worth?
How much are we really worth in God’s eyes?
In the Getty Museum hangs a striking painting by John Everett Millais titled The Ransom. It depicts a tense, emotional scene from the 16th century—a knight paying a ransom to rescue his two daughters from captivity. One captor clutches a bag overflowing with money, while the other holds tightly to the girls’ hands. Every figure in the painting—even the dog—is focused on this moment of exchange.
The knight kneels as he hands over precious jewels, while his daughters press themselves close to his chest, seeking comfort and protection in their father’s arms.
This powerful image calls to mind a modern story from Venezuela, where a young girl was kidnapped with a ransom set at ten million dollars. The parents were gripped by fear and desperation. Imagine then, if someone called the father and said, “I have good news. Your daughter was kidnapped, but I can offer you another girl for only fifty thousand.” Would the father be interested? Of course not. Why? Because he doesn’t want just any girl—he wants his own daughter.
This story reminds us of a deeper truth: sometimes we think that, because God is so vast and the world so full, we don’t really matter individually. Yet the Bible says something very different:
“You are bought with a price.” — 1 Corinthians 6:20
In the art world, value is determined by what someone is willing to pay. Interestingly, when Millais first tried to sell The Ransom, no one showed interest—not even for a thousand pounds. Now, it is housed in one of the most prestigious museums and worth millions.
But what about God? What did He pay to ransom you?
The apostle Peter makes it clear:
“You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:18–19
God didn’t pay a sum of money—He paid the life of His own Son.
So, how much are you worth?
To God, your value is beyond measure—equal to His own.
This is the central message of The Ransom: you are priceless.
| Artist | John Everett Millais |
| Title | The Ransom |
| Production | 1860–1862 |
| Material | Oil on Canvas |
| Dimensions | 114.3 cm (Width), 129.5 cm (Height) |
| Exhibit Location | Getty Center |
| Accession Number | 72.PA.13 |
| Credit Line | Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program |
| Image Credit | Wikimedia Commons |
Written by Dr. Neale Schofield
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What Is Your True Worth?