In Luke 12:6-7 Jesus is teaching his listening friends about how much value people, His children, have in God’s heart and eyes.
It’s easy to let life circumstances dominate our thinking and response to life’s challenges. Living with left sided paralysis makeS me wonder at times how much I really am worth.
Listen closely! Every person has value in God’s eyes. That is why Christ died for ALL men.
We men don’t need to be Mr. Universe, nor women need to be Miss America to be valued by Almighty God.
And it is easier to feel like we have less value when we are older in years because we are weaker in strength, have less thinking ability, and not able to contribute to everyday life at home or in our church home.
Read Luke 12:6-7 (NIV) “6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
We get our value from God, not from what we can or cannot do now or from what we used to be able to do. Our value comes from what God says about being God’s child and a joint heir with Jesus!
Christians have intrinsic (life given) value for at least four basic reasons:
1) We are intentionally created in God’s image.
2) Because of God’s unconditional love. God values individuals not for what they produce or achieve, but because they are His cherished creation.
3) Christ’s sacrifice: God showed us how valuable we are by sending Jesus to give His life for us.
4) God’s grace gives us more value than our performance: We cannot do enough or be good enough to receive God’s gift of eternal life. Our self-worth is not something earned through personal accomplishments, moral perfection, or by what people say or think. Our self-worth comes directly from what God thinks of me and not what others think of or say about me.
James 4:10 “Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.”
When younger and physically fit, my value came from playing the guitar or piano, singing another song, lifting more weight or running faster than a friend, teaching a bible class, etc. Yes, I miss doing some of those things, yet God can and will use other talents you and I offer in God’s service of Kingdom builders.
Sometimes, it’s walking through life’s challenging moments with another. Sometimes, it’s being a minister of presence. Sometimes it’s a smile someone else needs to see and feel coming their way. Sometimes it’s a pat on the back or saying, “I care”, “I love you”, “I am praying”, “What can I do and be to help?”