In 2022, a Mickey Mantle baseball card sold at auction for $12.6 million. The card instantly became the most valuable sports collectible in the world. So, what made this baseball card so expensive? For starters, Mickey Mantle’s Hall of Fame career amounted to over 500 homeruns, a lifetime batting average of .298 and seven World Series championships with the New York Yankees. That’s just scratching the surface. Furthermore, the value was increased by being exceptionally well preserved and in mint condition.

Are you still not convinced this card was worth that kind of money? You’re not alone. Valuing these cards can be tricky. It really comes down to the individual’s personal valuation.

My nephew, Grayton, truly loves the Atlanta Braves’ phenom outfielder Ronald Acuña Junior. My son, Knox, is aware of this so when he found an Acuña Jr. card in a brand new pack, he thought about giving it to his cousin. I thought this was a wonderful idea and encouraged him to do so.

However, Knox then mentioned that this Acuña Jr. card was signed. Puzzled, I asked him to bring it to me so I could look at this “signature.” As he handed me the card, my widened eyes instantly noticed that Knox had written his own name in black ink across the front of the card. I moved the card to reveal Knox’s grinning little face. With his hands behind his back, he said, “Grayton is going to love it!” My forehead wrinkled as I stuttered through a response. “Eh, I’m sure he will buddy,” I said. He knew that a signature would increase the value; unfortunately, he didn’t know that his signature would now completely devalue the card. Poor guy!

Jesus teaches us the standard of valuation through His teaching and example.

Jesus taught on the pitfalls of anxiety in Matthew 6:26. His remedy? Reminding them of their value. “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”

Jesus’s answer to the disciple’s fear was also more talk about their value. In Matthew 10:31, he says “So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

And finally, Jesus teaches us the standard for valuation through His example. We look no further than the cross to understand our true worth. Our redemption came at a high cost. Ephesians 1:6-7 says “So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”

We don’t have to worry about what others think about our worth. Our position in society, accomplishments, accolades, (fill in the blank) are all meaningless when it comes to our value in the eyes of God. We are valuable because God made us in His image. He loves and values us so highly that His son paid the highest price for our redemption on the cross. This is the ultimate standard for valuation. God’s signature is all over your life!

Just fishing with my daddy,

Ryan