Worth

I recently spoke to a group of women on the topic of our worth. It's easy to think that my worth is determined by the things I do or by what other people think of me. With a definition like this, my value fluctuates everyday based on who I'm comparing myself to and who's opinion I'm looking for. But think about how the value of any sort of item is determined. I like to imagine an old wooden chair. Maybe one that is very ornately carved, but also very worn and very fragile. I would not care to have something like this in my house--it sounds like junk to me. But it is possible that this chair might be sold at an antiques auction for thousands of dollars. Why? Because it is worth that to one person. It's not worth it to me. But because it's worth it to one person, that chair is valued at thousands of dollars.

When God gave his son Jesus to die in my place, he paid a price for me. To God, I am worth Jesus's death. It doesn't matter that no one else would do that for me. It doesn't matter what I have done, good or bad. It doesn't matter what other people think of me. My worth has been determined and the price has been paid.

Whenever I start to become concerned about whether other people approve of me, I try to remember these verses and the following song that I wrote:

1 Corinthians 7:23 - “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”

Matthew 10:29-31 - “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

You Are Worthy Little One

One disapproving look,
One broken heart,
All these judgments that are piled up on me.
When I imagine that others
Define my worth
I listen to You
And You say to me:

You are worthy little one.
Come into my presence.
You are worthy little one.
Come and sit by my throne.
You are worthy little one
To receive my blessing.
You are worthy little one
To be called My Own.

So when the winds of discouragement
Blow my way.
When sorrows like sea billows roll.
When none can be found
Who believes in me
I listen to You
And You say to me:

You are worthy little one.
Come into my presence.
You are worthy little one.
Come and sit by my throne.
You are worthy little one
To receive my blessing.
You are worthy little one
To be called My Own.