I'm old enough to remember when Lee Majors was the "six million dollar man." Back in the '70s, the television star played an injured astronaut rebuilt for that sum to fight crime. The cyborg was faster and stronger than the bad guys, and the world was safer for it.

Now comes the $100 million arm. Today's New York Times tells the story of Daisuke Matsuzaka, the newest member of the Boston Red Sox. The Japanese pitcher was signed to a $52 million, six-year contract. The team also paid Matsuzaka's Japanese ball club $51.11 million for the right to sign him. General manager Theo Epstein called the pitcher a "national treasure" in Japan. Now he's worth the national treasury in America.

Mr. Matsuzaka is not the only valuable individual in today's news. The Times is also reporting that the Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniya, was stopped by Israeli forces from returning to the Gaza Strip yesterday. They claim that he was carrying $35 million in cash, money that could be used for terrorist attacks. The cash will apparently be given to the Arab League in Cairo until it can be brought into Palestinian areas.

Money is the easiest way to quantify value in our capitalistic culture. "How much is he worth?" is always answered in financial terms. It's hard to say who is the best pitcher or quarterback or shooting guard, but it's not hard to know who's the richest. We assume that the best are paid the most, that value is determined by dollar signs. Green paper can start or stop wars. The more we have, the more significant we are. Or so it seems.

Now view that idea through the lens of Christmas. The Maker of heaven and earth decides to enter his creation. He chooses a feed trough for his throne, a cow stall for his palace, grimy field hands for his attendants. No financial investor in the world would be impressed by the event. No reporter from the Times or the Wall Street Journal would be interested. But heaven showed up: "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests'" (Luke 2:13-14). The angels knew the value of the Incarnation, the hinge upon which history turns.

So should you, for you are the reason for the season. You are the purpose behind Christmas. Your salvation was the goal of his birth, death, and resurrection. If you were the only person ever to have sinned, Christmas would have come just the same. No matter what happens to you on this Friday, remember the source of your personal worth. This is the word, and the invitation, of God.

Copyright © 2006. Godissues.com. All rights reserved.