Can You Afford It?

(Proverbs 13:8 KJV)  The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

What is a “ransom” (3724a)?  In English it is a price paid to buy your way out of captivity.  I recently read a biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine and it had a long section on King Richard the Lionhearted who was captured by an enemy king and held for ransom.  You have seen reference to it in the stories of Robin Hood. 

The Hebrew has another approach.  This word is the root for a family of words that are translated “atone” and “atonement.”  These are theologically loaded words that talk about the payment for our sins.  The wealthy often substitute their “riches” (6239) for the sacrifice of Christ.  They think that their success says something about their worth.  Take the first part of this verse in the context of the last verse and it becomes obvious that “riches” (6239) could be a fraud.  It is hard to be ransomed by a fraud.

So?  In what do you find your personal worth?  How do you measure success?  I would suggest you think about what is eternal and what is temporal.  All may be well.  Your priorities may be straight.  Then again, maybe not.