I am the property of Jesus Christ, and only in Him is my value computed.

And, since property value is determined by statute to be based upon its “highest and best use,” then perhaps His suffering and death provide the necessary transactional evidence of my incalculable worth in His eyes, justifying any application of that use for His purposes.

By illustrating the worth of the individual, I can also demonstrate two important principles of Common Law. Property has value. And the ability to own it is an inherent, substantive right which cannot be denied or converted to a privilege.

But unfortunately, the right to own property has lost its value in the minds of most men today.

There are any number of reasons why, but they all lead back to a very successful series of social engineering schemes to try to eliminate any earned satisfaction a man might get from possessing and enjoying the pursuits of his labor.

But God is just, and He hates the unlawful confiscation of wealth.

That’s why every war He ever created or commanded His people to fight was ultimately over land rights. While the extermination of evil was often a means, the end game was always the same—for men to possess durable title to their own private property in order to subsist and to also partake in the procurement of gain.

It was a big deal to Him. That’s why it should be to us.

Because land is only His to give, not anybody else’s. And, at the end of the day, He decides who’ll have it and who won’t.

“…for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.” [Gen. 13:15, God’s words to Abraham]

In fact, private property was important enough that His laws reflected the value of a human life not yet fully realized:

“If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life.” [Exod. 21:22-23]

While an unborn child certainly amounted to more than an unactualized asset, it was indeed that as well. A fetus may not be property, but its existence confirms any potential a father might have for acquiring resources as a result of its birth.

Whether real or even anticipated, life reflects value. To not recognize that is to deny any right to impute it.

That’s walking on thin ice.