How do you measure your worth? The paintings in an art gallery I visited were priced beyond my reach. I asked the expert what determined their worth.
She said the artist’s contribution to art, such as innovation and techniques, played a factor. “But, bottom line, it comes down to what someone will pay.”
She directed me to Michael Godard’s paintings and told me he started painting whimsical olives for his daughter when she had leukemia because they made her laugh. Before she died, she asked her father to keep painting the olives.
Godard set up an exhibition hoping to sell some paintings. Some lookers attended but no buyers. He was preparing to close when a man wandered in. The fanciful olives captivated him. He snatched up paintings for himself and hosted a private party to introduce his friends to this up and coming artist. That man was rock star Ozzy Osbourne.
One man with influence and money recognized the value of this talented artist. The rest, as they say, is history.
What Am I Worth?
I thought of Godard’s story when I considered my own worth after spending a wonderful time with some talented friends. While I struggle with fatigue, these women overflow with energy and creativity and produce more in a month than I do in a year. Jesus graciously used my lack of energy to address an issue when I read the following:
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV).
I wondered if I was arguing against God about anything. Sure enough, the lie, “My worth comes from what I do. When I produce more, I’m worth more” popped into my head.
Good grief, I know the world rates worth this way, but that’s not God’s value system. Yet, this argument against my knowledge of God had returned .
How do you rate your worth? Do your beliefs argue against God? Many base their self-worth on what others think about them or whether they feel loved by the people they respect. Others weigh their talents against their faults or judge themselves by how they look. These foundations shift with illness, age, and time. The Bible provides a solid basis for worth.
How do you measure your worth? Do your beliefs argue against God? #worth, #selfworth Click To TweetThree Ways to Know Your Worth
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Remember Your Calling
At the end of His life, Jesus said, “I have brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you gave me to do” (Jn. 17:4 CEV).
How could He say this? Many were still sick, and others hadn’t heard about Him. Yet He said He’d finished, not all the work, but all the work His Father had given Him to do.
I’m called to do only the work God gives me to do. He rewards faithfulness (Matt. 25:21). My daily work is to abide in Jesus, believe in Him, and do the work He’s given me (Jn. 6:29). When I do this, my Father is glorified and lasting fruit is born through my life (Jn. 15:1-18).
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Remember Your Creator
Some art in the gallery looked like a child’s creation, yet it carried an expensive price tag. Why? Because of who made it. You were created by the Master Creator.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it” (Ps. 139:14-15 NLT).
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Remember the Cost
Like in art, value boils down to what someone is willing to pay. Jesus paid the highest price in the universe for you—His life.
You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price”(1 Cor. 6:19-20 NLT).
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV).
If you’re arguing with your Creator over your worth, ask Him to show you the lie you are believing and the truth to defeat it. God uses our struggles to teach us to lean on Him. Only then are we free to be all He created us to be.
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Blessings,
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What a deep and beautiful truth. Thank you, Debbie, it was just the reminder I needed this morning.
Thank you, Ann. I seem to need a lot of reminders!
Wow. Thank you for this. Very powerful. Good reminder to reset in the face of a busy upcoming work week!
Susan, may you work in His strength and enjoy the fruit of your labor! Blessings.
Debbie this is wonderful so needed to read this today!❤️
Thank you, Teresa. As an artist, I imagine you’ve wondered at the price of some works too. A scribble by a master is valuable.
Amen. Yes, remember God and how His love is always with us.
Yes, Melissa! You said it well.
Worth is subjective my friend. What has great value to one has little value to another. That’s always been my problem with placing a human value on anything. Since humans are flawed, the values they place on other humans must be flawed. As the wonderful worship song goes “I am who You say I am…” In God’s eyes, we are all the apple of His eye, His treasures. As for your worth ma’am? I’m human, but I place greater value in someone’s words from their heart than any number of other sources. Yours my friend, are priceless.
J. D., your words have encouraged me today. Blessings to you!
I loved what you pointed out about this verse, John 17:4, Debbie: “Many were still sick, and others hadn’t heard about Him. Yet He said He’d finished, not all the work, but all the work His Father had given Him to do.” That really made me contemplate those times when I feel like I didn’t get everything done I wanted to from MY list. Thanks for the reminder to complete God’s list for my day, and leave it all up to Him.
Isn’t that freeing, Julie? We only need to do what He has for us each day.
Remembering the cost can put our worth into perspective. Jesus paid a high price to give us His value. Thanks for the post.
Thank you, Barbara.
Thanks for reminding me that my worth is in Christ and in my obedience to what He has called me to do. I can get caught up in trying to do more things and be a better person instead of just focusing on God.
Thank you, Joanna. It was a good reminder to me too.
This is something I’ve long struggled with – measuring my worth based on my production. The three steps you lay out will help me with this. Thank you.
I got to read two of your posts today!
Thank you, Candyce!
Great post
Thank you, Jimmie.
Remember the cost. Oh, that’s a good one. Visiting you today from the dancing with Jesus link up . laurensparks.net
Lauren, I agree, one to remember!
Oh how I needed your beautiful words of truth from God. Grounded in Christ and covered with His righteousness makes us worthy. Thanks for being obedient to His calling.
Thank you, Deborah! God bless.
What a sweet post. I can so relate to what you said about sometimes forgetting that our worth has nothing to do with productivity. I have problems with fatigue, and, as a result, feeling lazy. But when I’m able to do more, I feel like I’m worth more somehow. Thank you for the reminder that my worth has nothing to do with how much I get done.
Ashley, I think those of us who struggle with fatigue and live in a world that measures worth based on how much we accomplish feel the need to remember God’s value system more than others. But that may be a blessing! Because then we lean in on Him and find contentment. Thanks for commenting.
This is a wonderful post, Debbie! I’ll be featuring it on Candidly Christian this Friday for our Grace and Truth link up. Thanks for linking up.
Thank you, Heather. I appreciate that so much!
I too struggle with the lie that my worth somehow is dependant on my productivity. But remembering that my creator did all the work and grace is how I measure my worth is such a beautiful truth. Thanks for reminding me.
Tiffany, the world feeds us that lie everyday. We need to encourage each other. Blessings to you.