Priceless, but Costly

My parents raised me with a pretty strong work ethic. I have pretty much always tried to earn what I could through hard work and determination. We tell our kids the same thing - to keep trying and keep striving and good things would happen. So it is still somewhat shocking when my heavenly father tells me to give it up. He says to stop trying. What is He talking about?

No man can by any means redeem his brother,
Or give to God a ransom for him—
For the redemption of his soul is costly,
And he should cease trying forever—
Psalm 49:7-8

That brought me to the difference between priceless and costly. Priceless is something that carries such extremely high value that it is not purchasable with the currency we have. The price of a soul is beyond our ability to purchase. I could walk into the most expensive store out there and still something in me tells me I could afford it if...  Maybe if I save up more, maybe if I win the lottery, maybe if I am successful in business. But priceless indicates to me there is no chance I could purchase it. So God says forget it. Can we accept it? So much of us still want to strive for something that is beyond our means.

Costly on the other hand sets a very high price tag, one again almost unimaginable. It can be purchased but only under extreme circumstances. The purchaser must have certain qualifications. I remember buying my first car on credit. I qualified to purchase the car - they researched my record and found me credit worthy. God is the only one credit worthy of redemption. But O the cost. I am trying to wrap my head around the incarnation - God becoming a baby. Can't get there. I am trying to wrap my head around redemption - Jesus bearing the brunt of my sins. Can't truly get there. I am trying to wrap my head around resurrection - the payment being accepted. Still not there. Costly may be attainable by God, but not cheap. I believe it fully and I accept it. But can I truly understand it's cost?

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Cor. 8-9

I have found that those truly touched by grace have a hard time not being humble. Why? Because they recognize that which was priceless to them was purchased at great cost by the only one who could redeem their soul.