In his book What Money Can't Buy, Michael J. Sandel states, "There are some things money can't buy--but these days, not much." Almost everything is up for sale, and if you have enough funds, you can buy what you want. Sandel lists the following examples:

• The right to jump to the head of the line at Universal Studios: $149. Vacationers at Universal Studios can buy a special Front of Line Pass that allows them to cut to the front on all rides, shows, and attractions.
• A prison-cell upgrade: $90 a night. In some cities nonviolent offenders can pay for a clean, quiet jail cell, without any non-paying prisoners to disturb them.
• The services of an Indian surrogate mother: $8,000. Western couples seeking surrogates increasingly outsource the job to India, and the price is less than one-third the going rate in the United States.
• The right to shoot an endangered black rhino: $250,000. South Africa has begun letting some ranchers sell hunters the right to kill a limited number of rhinos, to give the ranchers an incentive to raise and protect the endangered species.
• Access to the carpool lane while driving solo: about $8. Some cities try to ease traffic congestion by letting solo drivers pay to drive in carpool lanes.
• Your doctor's cellphone number: $1,500 and up per year. A growing number of "concierge" doctors offer cellphone access and same-day appointments for patients willing to pay annual fees ranging from $1,500 to $25,000.
• The right to emit a metric ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere: $10.50. The European Union runs a carbon-dioxide-emissions market that enables companies to buy and sell the right to pollute.
• The right to immigrate to the United States: $500,000. Foreigners who invest $500,000 and create at least 10 full-time jobs in an area of high unemployment are eligible for a green card.

Of course there's one thing that money still can't buy--salvation. Jesus paid for it with his own life, but it's offered to us as a free gift. 

Go ahead...take a few moments and try to wrap your mind around it today.

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word