Several years ago, when I was teaching classes in the prison ministry, there was a class where we would teach using the book by Robert S. McGee called The Search for Significance. We would read a chapter or two each week and then have a class about the topics everyone read.
The main premise of this book was to show how we had developed some inappropriate formulas that we used to define our significance, and these formulas were seriously flawed. Because of this, we did not have the right measure of just how significant we really are.
The bad formula we use goes like this: our significance or self-worth is equal to the opinions that others have based on our performance. The better their opinion of us is, the more self-worth we have. This formula is a lie from the devil meant to weaken the usefulness of a believer.
There is power in the freedom of not being tethered by the opinions of man. “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.” (Proverbs 29:25 MSG).
We are taught this formula from a young age. As children, we longed to gain the approval of our parents. When we performed well, we were praised, and when we failed in our performance, we were criticized and perhaps punished. We based our value on the approval of our performance.
The problem with this formula is that there will always be people who have a low opinion of us no matter what we do. We get on that proverbial mouse wheel trying to please everyone in our life, hoping to gain their approval and thereby gain and then hold onto our self-worth.
There are people who know this formula and weaponize it against others. They are constantly cycling between praise and criticism, playing with the self-worth of others like a puppet on strings, knowing that they are in control all along.
Nobody can put you down when you look up to Him for your significance. “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 NOG).
Many people go through their whole lives, always working to gain their self-worth through others but never reaching it in a meaningful way. They put themselves down and even think that is humility when all they are doing is telling God that His measure of their worth doesn’t count.
Child of God, your worth is not found in how well you perform nor in what others think of you. Your worth is found in what Jesus thinks of you, and He died on the Cross because you are worth every drop of His blood spilled on that day.
Your net worth in 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).
Your value was determined in creation, as all men and women were made in the image of God. We were meant to live with God forever, and He values you so much He sent His only Son to die for you so that He could save you to live with Him in heaven forever.
As art reflects the artist, so you reflect God. “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).
Your worth is beyond all the gold and silver in all the earth because you were bought with the precious blood of the Lamb. You don’t have to do one thing on this earth to earn your salvation, but only receive it and know that He thought you were worth saving.
Don’t measure your worth by anyone else but by Christ, who paid the price to save you. “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was [b]manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18-20 NKJV).
The Lamb of God cherishes those who come to Him so that He can gather His own and show them just how much they are worth to Him. He gave everything for you, and that is how much you are worth. He loves you so much there is nothing He wouldn’t do to help you.
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).
Child of God, when you know your worth, then you will also know the worth of others. When you see your value to God, you will see the value in others. The more you gain all your self-worth through Jesus, the less anyone can take that away from you.
Value people and things on earth based on their worth in heaven. Jesus taught, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:19-20 NKJV). Treasures in heaven are the redeemed souls whose worth is based on the priceless blood of Christ.
Blessings to you always,
Paul Balius
Paul, this post you beautifully wrote by the most precious Holy Spirit from the lovingly kind heart and the marvelous, munificent mind of the Father and His Christ, our Friend, and Brother, the Lord Jesus, is so very needed and so very special.
Beneath the Sonshine of His smile, in a wide-open field with varicolored fragrant flowers and crystal clear streams of living water, I gratefully, gleefully reverberate richly with every wondrous word you have written. 🙂
Thank You, our affectionate Abba Almighty, for so very fondly fathering Paul, and Jesus, our ardent, affirming Advocate, for so very big brothering Paul.
Thank you so much, your words lift me and encourage me to keep going. Thank you!