1 Peter 1:18-19 (AMP)
You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,
But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.

Value-added tax or VAT is the consumption tax placed on a product at each stage of the supply chain, from production to sale.
Adam and Eve fell out of God’s grace and lost the value God placed on them at creation, and each generation after them has depreciated even further.
Matthew 6:32 says to seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added to us, but humanity seems to seek everything except God, we go after everything and anything. We are in constant pursuit of earthly things without considering their value to our eternal destiny, unfortunately, there is no end to such pursuit. Every earthly pursuit must be measured against their value.
What gives added value to your life? From what do you attain value? Have you ever heard “why don’t you make something of yourself?” what exactly are we supposed to make of ourselves other than what God had made us? The words only add to discouragement and disillusionment, especially if the person being told does not have a high estimation of themselves. Our search for what to do with our lives must start from a simple, but profound recognition of our identity before the Father.
We have been redeemed and made valuable by the blood of the Lamb and by any corruptible thing. Corruptible things mean anything that man usually gives in exchange for another; but may not necessarily add value to one’s life and destiny, as all corruptible things perish. Even silver and gold, the most valuable commerce material, bear no value to the souls of men or a lost world, for they are infinitely less than the worth of the souls of men, so has no VAT margin to life.
The law of diminishing returns states that there is proportionally smaller profits or benefits gotten from something as more money or energy is invested in it. Making that thing of less value.
In God’s kingdom, this law is effective on life and soul, it is not based on your work, business portfolio or economic weather but according to Ephesians 2:8, God’s grace is a value-added tax gifted to every believer that increases their worth.
Some people are in pursuit of happiness, some others are pursuing wealth, status, and recognition, they may end up chasing rainbows that can never be found and lose out on the VAT gained from seeking after God.
Seeking God adds value to us all around, especially granting us access and a doorway into heaven.
You are bought with a price states in 1 Corinthians 7:23 with value-added tax by the blood of Jesus and there is nothing you can do by yourself that will add value to your life. Pursuing inconsequential things make us sell ourselves to the highest bidder (the enemy of our souls), who would want us to remain bound in him, to continue depreciating when we should rather prefer and retain the liberty we acquired in and through Christ.
Everything about God’s kingdom is orchestrated to add value to us. According to James 1:1-4, every journey God takes us through has VAT attached to it to promotes and help us attain righteousness. Self-help gives short gains with little or no VAT. God is your value-added tax.
Shalom