What would you pay for a piece of gum? What about a used piece of gum? What if it was allegedly chewed by Britney Spears?

Such an item went for $14,000.

People will pay dearly for what they value. A jar of air that the owner said “may contain air molecules that came in direct contact with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt” was auctioned.

The highest bidder paid $530.

Justin Timberlake’s half-eaten French toast was bought for $3,154, and a lock of Justin Bieber’s hair went for $40,668.

Someone paid $25,000 for William Shatner’s kidney stone and $31,000 for John Lennon’s tooth.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis’s fake pearls were sold for $211,500, and John F. Kennedy’s golf clubs brought in $772,500.

Not everyone’s used items are worth more than the counterparts.

I was once given a shocking dose of this reality when my habit of writing in books came up in conversation.

“I like the way you write in your books,” my daughter Elise said. “When I read one of your books, I first read the page, then I read your notes. I like to save your thoughts for last.”

“Mom, are you kidding me?” my daughter Monique said. “If you write in your books, it will lessen their value when we sell them on eBay!”

Guess who was my favorite daughter that day.

It doesn’t matter if my stuff never sells. My value is not based on such, but on the way God views me and the price that was paid for me.

While money can buy objects, what’s the price of a soul?

1 Peter 1:18,19 clearly states that we were not redeemed with mere silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. Life is in the blood and Jesus’ divine DNA carries eternal life. The sacrifice of His life on the cross paid for my sins, gives me victory in this life and the promise of being with Him for eternity.

Our stuff may not be worth much, but we are precious to God.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.