What is the Value of Human Life

Recently I saw our community and surrounding cities become outraged by the actions of teens who dropped a dog off of a bridge and recorded it. These teens were verbally attacked, and people immediately began sending messages of their desire to adopt this poor dog which surprisingly survived. My first thought of this reaction by the community was: “Where is the outrage when this type of act occurs against humans?”

Don’t get me wrong, I was upset by this video too. I love my dog and hate to see any animal abused or neglected. However, if this much outrage were directed at crimes against people then we would live in a much different society, but we have become afraid, indifferent, and closed mouthed about the actions or inactions against human life.

What is the value of human life? That answer would probably depend on who you ask. I think most would say they do value human life, but do the actions of our own lives and that of society reflect that? National and local news are filled with stories of violent crimes committed against people.

Recently, I heard of teens attacking elderly people not for robbery but just for the thrill of hitting someone who is defenseless, I guess. I don’t understand it. What happened to respect for your elders?

Murder, robbery, assault…the list goes on and on. What happened to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?

Then there are stories that don’t always make the news but also show this lack of value for others. Children are neglected by parents who are more concerned with their own pleasures. This results in a greater number of children needing foster care than there are families willing to care for them. Innocent babies who have no voice are aborted each day while many couples go to extreme measures in hopes of conceiving a child. Children are a precious gift from God, yet does our society reflect that?

We need to view ourselves and others through God’s eyes and see the value that He sees in each and every person in this world. Interestingly, the value of art is determined by three questions: Who made it? How many are like it? And what would someone pay for it? Our value can be determined by these same three questions. We were made by a God who created an entire universe; no one is exactly like us; and finally the extraordinary price paid for us means that we are incredibly valuable.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” How do we know that He loves us? He sent His own son to take the punishment that we deserve so that we could have eternal life. All we have to do is believe. That is how valuable we are to God!