One area in which we always measure ourselves wrongly is when we calculate our worth. The problem stems from the fact that we calculate our worth using the worldly method of self-worth. This calculation will vary wildly as we use the world’s measurements to value ourselves.
The world says you must look like someone else, lowering your self-worth such that you would pay anything to gain it back. Your worth is by His measure, not man’s. You are not called to become like the image of man but of Christ. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son….” (Romans 8:29 NKJV).
In our flesh and in this world, our self-worth will always lean either towards thinking too highly of ourselves or thinking too lowly of ourselves. Both of these measurements are wrong because they place us as the ones to determine our worth instead of God, who is our Creator.
Never base your value on the opinions of others. “Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are.” (1 John 3:1-2 NOG).
When we over-value ourselves, it is always done by lowering the value of those around us. We use the things of the temporal world so that we can place ourselves in a position higher than others. When we do this, we diminish what God can do for us and through us.
The higher you think of yourself, the less the Lord can do with you. “…to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3 NKJV).
Thinking too highly of ourselves stunts the height we could have otherwise grown to. The greater our pride, the lower that God must take us. The Lord does not humble us to ruin us but to correct us in how we can prosper. God only has to humiliate us when we are proud.
When you promote yourself, you demote yourself in all that God might do through you. “Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor” (Matthew 23:12 AMPC).
When we under-value ourselves, it is by allowing others to put us down. We then become self-critical, thinking we have less worth because of some worldly measurement we are using to value ourselves. When we do this, we limit what God can do by telling Him we aren’t worth the trouble.
God is not limited in what He can do through you because of your deficiencies. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV).
Thinking too lowly of ourselves takes God out of the equation and puts us in charge of calculating our worth. We think we are being humble, but we are actually being proud by claiming the right to value ourselves. So long as we think we are worthless, we are not asking God for His opinion.
When you put yourself down, you are criticizing your Creator. “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14 NKJV).
We are meant to be eternal creatures, and we are supposed to seek God’s eternal scale for calculating our worth. We must stop measuring ourselves and instead turn to Scripture to see what the Lord says. When we seek after God’s truth, we will always discover how off we really were.
Arrogance is thinking too highly of yourself. Worthlessness is thinking too low of yourself. Confidence is living in the truth of what God thinks of you. “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17 NKJV).
The Father loved us so much He sent His Son Jesus to die for us. This shows you are of great value to the Father. This also shows others around you are also of great value to Him. This love He showed is not based on any worldly value system but only on the love born out of heaven.
Your net worth on God’s economy has nothing to do with what you own. “…you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV).
The Lord Jesus loved us so much He willingly went to the Cross to save us. He knew there would be some who were saved that thought they deserved it. He also knew there would be some who were saved that didn’t think they were worth saving. We were saved because He is worthy.
Your worth to God is of far greater importance than your worth to the world. In the “hall of faith” the prophets are described, “…of whom the world was not worthy…” (Hebrews 11:38 NKJV).
Child of God, your value is based on what God says, not what the world thinks. Don’t measure yourself against each other but only let God show you in His Word how valuable you are to Him. Stay lowly in your estimation of yourself while realizing how much He really thinks of you.
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Very good post. Our egos like to take control always. Even playing the underdog becomes a kind of inverse pride. Neither is acceptable to God.
How much happier and truly free we could all be if we just completely let God take control of our lives and every issue in our lives.
So sorry for the late reply! I really loved what you said about inverse pride. I have seen this many times, and to my shame, sometimes in myself. It is often in our quest for humility that we miss the mark and find pride.
I am of two minds – one is like most “honest” people, we forget God’s view of us and rely on man’s view. We tend to lower our worth due to how the world see us instead of the fact that God never makes junk. We are uniquely and perfectly made.
My other minds goes out to those who think they are better than others and therefore have not need of God. I think I pity those the most.
Wonderful message. Thank you.
Hi Anita, apologies on the late reply, has been a busy but good time. I agree with you, that there is often the two extremes, undervaluing or overvaluing our worth. We need to turn to the Lord Jesus and let Him guide us. I tend to undervalue myself and this can be damaging, hindering me from doing God’s work because I don’t feel adequate enough. Thanks for your message, Paul