By Chris WittsTuesday 13 Sep 2022Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
What is your life worth to you now? That’s a deep question. My guess is you’d say everything and life is that gift that we’ve been given. We want to experience everything it holds. So we don’t think a lot about this question. Is there any value to my life? We just get on with life and we do the best we can. Well, that is unless something dramatic happens. Like a health prognosis that’s alarming cancer or some other serious health issue which is unexpected and unwelcome.
But this question is really what I want to ask you today. Do you value yourself? Do you see that your existence on this planet matters? Sadly, some say no. The truth is, we’ve all been there at some point. Usually, when things look the bleakest and hope seems to have disappeared. At these times, not only do we feel hopeless and helpless, but we feel worthless as well, and finding any value is also very hard. Now what we didn’t realise then, and we may have a tough time believing it now, is that we always have value and worth.
Our Worth
Some of us don’t know our worth, and that can be consciously or unconsciously thought because we believe that we are worthless. “I’m nothing”. But believing that you are unworthy can affect everything from your thoughts, your emotions to what you do to your experiences. Knowing our worth and believing that we are indeed worthy people is absolutely essential for happiness and wellbeing. And that’s the message you’d get from most counsellors and psychologists. There is another dimension to all this. You are valuable because of who you are – the Bible says you are made in God’s image, according to his likeness. That’s what Genesis 1:26 says. A long time ago, even before God created you, and before he created this universe, you were the focus of His love. And when you think about it (and I can’t think of any news that’s more thrilling than this), the God of this universe loves you. He’s looking out for you as if you were the only one alive.
Now that’s what gives your life meaning and purpose, and it helps us all to understand so much about God and the sanctity of human life. Every person’s life does matter. No one is insignificant or worthless. Your life does matter. It also means there are no ordinary people on this planet. C. S. Lewis puts it well. In his book ‘The Weight of Glory’. He says “there are no ordinary people – you have never met a mere mortal’. So even the most obscure person is not ordinary in God’s eyes.
Ultimate value in being made in His image…yet unique as well
And that means we should not mistreat anyone just because we feel they’re inferior in some way. The good news is that you were created by God, your thumbprint, the iris of your eye, your genetic code. These things are unique to you and no one else. You’re not a mistake. God wants to have a personal and loving relationship with you. He knows that if we walk with him by spending time with him in prayer and obeying what he says, we will be safe now and forever in eternity. That alone should make you feel valued. Often we sense our own value by what others think of us. And I have a feeling that’s quite widespread. Do you keep your thoughts or questions to yourself because you’re afraid of what others will think? Well, deep down we do fear what others will think and if they will reject us. That’s why we worry about what they think. We’re seeking the approval of others to make us significant and to give us significance and value. But that’s not necessary.
God already loves you more than you can imagine. He calls you worthy and valuable. You don’t have to live in fear of what others think about you. Because the Bible says in 1 John 4:18 – “Perfect Love drives out fear”.
And in Proverbs 29:25 – “fear of man will prove to be a snare. But whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Your values form the foundation of your life. They dictate the choices that you make and they determine the direction that your life takes. Consider Jesus for a moment. He’s our best example. He valued life. He is life. He came to give life. He was motivated by love. He gave love freely to others and he died because of love.
So love makes you a giver, not a taker. Jesus is the prince of peace. He brought peace to you and me. So your value is found in an active relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, today I want to ask that question. Is there any value to my life, Lord? There certainly is. As I put my trust and my faith in you, you alone can give me the value that I’m looking for. Amen.