Know Your Worth…

As I researched self-worth I came across another blog, “Lavender Vines“. Tiffany’s explanation of worth was the most applicable, in my opinion. It helped me to add context to all these feelings and thoughts swirling in my head and in my notebook. I hope it does the same for you as we dive into the topic of self-worth. Worth is not to be mistaken for value. Here’s why:

“Worth really speaks to the cost of something, and only takes into consideration the monetary cost of an item, without any emotional attachment. That is why the worth of an item always remains the same. However, the value of something takes into account both an emotional and monetary cost. That is why value can fluctuate depending on the person. For example, I might not value a vintage comic book as much as someone else, however, regardless of how valuable it is to me, a vintage comic book is still worth thousands of dollars. To determine if an item has value or not really depends on the opinion of the person in question. However, with worth, all that matters is the cost of the item, without factoring in anyone else’s opinion.”

Tiffany, Lavender Vines Blog

Do you know your worth? Do you struggle with feeling good enough? The world says you are only as worthy of love, time, and attention as what you have to offer. Does the weight of that sit heavy on your shoulders? Can you think of a time you have allowed your worth to be diminished by someone else’s judgment of you? Did that judgment silence you, hold you back, or shrink you in future situations? Has it warped your self-image and defined your motivations?

Bought for a Price

If worth is constant, regardless of perception, how much are you worth? The Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God“. That we are “dead in our transgressions“, and are subject to “gratifying the cravings of the flesh” – in other words, being super selfish. It says we are “deserving of God’s wrath“. Based on this description I feel like humans kind of suck.

Thankfully, worth is not based on my perception, or yours. The fact is, we were created out of an overflow of love to be in communion with God. We are image-bearers, set apart from the rest of creation and given authority over it. As such, we are greatly valued by God. To our creator, we are worth it all in order that we would have the ability to know Him in a deep abiding relationship. You are worth everything.

The only way to stand in the presence of God and all His perfection is to be equally perfect. The Bible clearly states that we will never be perfect enough or good enough to earn the ability to stand in front of God without deserving wrath. Even the older brother in the story of the prodigal son deserved wrath. No matter how moral, upstanding, good you try to be you are not good enough. This is real self-esteem-boosting, I know. Don’t be discouraged or frustrated or defensive. We are loved immeasurably by God and He did not leave us in a state of unreachable.

• Galatians 2:16: know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
• Romans 3:23–24: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
• Titus 3:5: he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
• Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

God provided an intercessor as a perfect plan for reconciliation, redemption, and justification. Someone that could be a propitiation or stand in the gap between God’s perfection and our imperfection. Jesus, being fully God, humbled himself and put on flesh, lived a perfect life, and willingly died on a cross so that He would endure the wrath meant for you and for me. Why? Because we are worth it.

• John 10:18: No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.
• Mark 10:45: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

You were bought for a price, Jesus’ life, and you were worth it.

Know Your Worth

When you know your worth you can confidently step into it. As believers in Jesus, we are born again – new creations. We are freed from the shackles of sin and death. We are fully forgiven through the blood of Christ. Our past has no power to guilt or shame us. It has no power to belittle what you have been called to do. We are “to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1). The Bible says we are heirs to the throne and we have an inheritance stored up for us.

• James 2:5: Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
• Romans 8:17: And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 
• Acts 20:32: And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
• Matthew 25:34: Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

As such, we have a new identity as a child of God. We are His sons and daughters. No one can ever take that identity from you. No hurtful words or wounding actions will ever change how much you are worth.

Worth the Cost

Your justification was complete when Jesus sacrificed his life for yours. But sanctification is progressive. We are transformed over time, shedding layers of self-centered flesh, revealing more and more characteristics of God as we faithfully step in obedience to His will.

God took the first step. He didn’t wait for us to say we needed Him before He provided the way. He has never left us and never will, even when we leave Him. There is only one thing He requires from us to live fully. Everything. All our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength.

God requires your obedience, freely given, just as Christ freely gave His life for yours. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus answers the question, “how do I get into Heaven, or have eternal life” one way… “die to yourself and follow me”. Just as you were worth dying for, He is too. The difference is that you just have to lay down your will.

• Luke 9:23: Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
• Matthew 10:38: Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
• Mark 10:21: Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.
• Matthew 16:25: For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

God is worth it. From the outside looking in it sounds crazy, wrong, or maybe overbearing. It sounds like He wants to stifle you or prevent “the real you” from flourishing. But, He created you. He created all things to be good. Everything He asks of you is for your good.

It is an upsidedown and backward kingdom. Jesus, the Son of God, came as a baby, lived a “blue-collar” life, sought out his disciples, revealed himself as God to a woman first, and voluntarily allowed himself to be tortured and killed by the people He came to save. The King of Kings came to serve, not be served. Women are treasures and co-heirs, not property or lesser than a man (unthinkable in Biblical times and most of history). We are to respond to the bad things with love (Ephesians 4:32, Luke 6:27-28, Proverbs 24:17, 1 Peter 3:9, Romans 12:14, 17-19, Proverbs 25:21-22, Proverbs 20:22, Matthew 5:43-45). And to live the fullest version of yourself, you must die to yourself.

Just as you were worth dying for, so is He. Praying the reality of your worth sinks in as we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus this month. Happy Easter.