What's it worth?

What's it worth?

“When I a have a nickel and trade them in for 5 pennies, am I making more money?” “NO!” “Why not? I went from 1 to 5!” “Because you still have the same value just different coins,” says the lively child in the back. “Excellent!” We have learned value can be fixed as it is in pennies and nickels, or value can be reflected on a different scale altogether in things such as memories and pictures. Where does the value come from? What makes some things worth more than others? What determines something or someone’s worth?

What you are willing to trade for it.

Value is defined as “the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.”

I have a letter that my grandfather wrote my grandmother when he was away at at WWII. They were young and in love and I imagine the letters were what kept him going in those dark and dangerous days. The paper, the ink, the envelope, all not worth more than a few coins. But the value. Words that my young grandfather wrote about life and love. Faith and devotion. About a hope in coming home and if not, a hope in returning to His Savior. Worth a couple coins indeed.

To me this simple sheet of paper is irreplaceable. No amount of money can signify or replace its value. The value is not found on the earthly paper but in the heavenly significance of a man and a woman who are declaring their love for one another and their heavenly Father that will echo through generations.

My pictures. My past journals. My memories. All things that hold little earthly value, but to me, priceless. As I dug through my Bible researching value here are some treasures I uncovered.

1. Our value is not based on our behavior. Thank God. The Bible says “8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 You do not have to clean yourself up to come to Jesus. He loves you right where you are. Foul mouthed, selfish, and self important as you are. Be warned though. He loves you too much to let you stay there.

2. Your value is not based on what anyone else thinks of you. ANYONE. You feel as though your spouse doesn’t get it. Your kids don’t appreciate it. That evaluation at work has you stewing all day. Proverbs tells us “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.” Galatians 1:10 Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Chose to live for the one whose opinion matters for eternity. All else fades.

3. Your value never changes. God will never, ever give on you. This is a non-negotionale point. Phil 1:6 says “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. I know sometimes you don’t see the the worth or the why. Just take one more step. Then another. He will carry you on! Timothy 1:12-16 Paul was a murder of anyone who proclaimed the name of Christ Jesus. The blood of many innocent souls coated his hands. And YET!!!! God did not surrender him over to the darkness. No! He used him and this to prove that we do not determine what we are worth. Our actions do not void our destiny. Paul said in 1 Timothy 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

4. You are made in the imagine of God Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

********And here again my friend, hangs all the threads of eternity. You are worth what God was willing to trade for you.*****

5. Your value is so important that the living and moving God ransomed His own Son’s blood for you.

“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

1 peter 1: 18-21

My students understand value as much as something is worth. What (usually money or time) you are willing to trade something for. What are we placing our own value on? Is it our job? Our position in society? Or weight? nOur bank account? What others think? Or what the one who knitted me together in my mother’s womb thinks of me.

Of the Father who looked down to earth and saw his beloved children wondering in circles. Trying to reach for more and not know exactly how to get there. So He offered a ransom for us. He handed over His Son and let His precious blood soak the ground to pay for our sins. For our wrong doings. We didn’t ask. We didn’t have to.

In this He has said it all. How much are you worth? Look at the stripes of skin falling from my Son’s back. Think you aren’t good enough? You aren’t. That’s why the blood and water flowed from his side. As an offering to the parched and desolate land. Wondering why He would even still care? Because He choose YOU! You didn’t choose Him. John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

You are valued beyond all you could ever imagine.