The Value of a Single Life

What is the value of one single life? I think that is a worthwhile question to ask. In a society which seeks to put a dollar amount on everything, it certainly seems that we are placing less and less value on human life while increase the value of the temporary trappings which surround us. So, let’s try to put a price tag on a human life.

Of course, in order to do that we first need to ask, “On whose life are we placing this value?” Is it your life? Is it your spouse’s life? Or one of your children’s lives? Or a friend? A coworker? A neighbor? Or is it just a stranger across town or on the other side of the world? Face it, most of us would apply a different price tag based upon our relationship with the person to whom we assign the value. Is there any amount that would be too much to spend to save the life of your spouse or child? Would you assign the same value to a friend, co-worker, or neighbor? Probably not.

But, for the sake of this article, let’s assume that we are talking about a person whom you have never met who lives in a remote village in Uganda. And, for further consideration, we will say that it is a little girl name Charinda who is eight years old. How much is her life worth? Ten dollars? Fifty dollars? One hundred? One thousand? Come on… push has come to shove and you have been contacted and informed that Charinda is sick and will die without medical treatment, and you are the only source of funding. How much would you be willing to spend to save this little girl’s life? Would you be willing to spend anything at all? Would you be willing to send $20.00 or $1000.00? Would you be willing to empty your bank account?

I ask these questions because the value we place on the life of a stranger is the true value we place on life in general. It has nothing to do with the value we place on our spouse or children. It has no bearing on the price tag we assign to friends or co-workers. Those things are determined by the value we place on the relationship which we have with them, not life. So, what is Charinda’s life worth to you, and how do you decide that price tag?

For most people the answer would be, “The amount that I can give without making a significant sacrifice.” They may not say this out loud, but the way they live shows it. That explains why recent fundraising efforts for The Red Cross’ work in Haiti was so successful. The drive was based upon giving $10.00 by using the text feature on your cell phone. Who could not afford to give $10.00? And who would choose not to, especially when you don’t even have to mail a check? So, help was sent and lives were saved because millions of people gave so little that they wouldn’t miss it. And that is fine, I guess. But what happens when millions aren’t ready to respond? What happens when the response depends of the sacrifices and giving of a few?

Which brings us back to Charinda. What would you give and give up to keep her alive? Is she worth a night at the movies? Is she worth your cable television? Is she worth a decision to swear off name brand clothing and shoes? Is she worth settling for a smaller home or older car? Is she worth denying your children a few luxuries so she can have a few necessities? 

These questions are challenging, even haunting. I have been asking them of myself a lot recently, and I think it would be valuable for every believer to ask and answer them. Because the simple truth is that the answers we give to these questions determines the real value we place on life.

So…how much is a life really worth to you?