mor•sel |ˈmôrsəl|noun– a small piece or amountOn the Origin of WorthThe statements, "I'm not worth anything" and, "My net worth is X.xx[multiplier] dollars" are both correct, and they are both false.
Worth is given, and seems to come from four main sources: the one who is, the one who created, the one who possesses, and the one who desires. In the two cases introduced above, the one who 'is' has assigned a value to themselves. The former finds no value in themselves, and the latter finds their value in the sum value of his or her possessions. The fallacy in both statements is that the three outside sources are neglected, and therefore the claims are inaccurate. We will focus on the three outside sources.
Worth from CreationWhen I invest in something, it gains worth in my eyes. If I help someone build a fence or garage, or if I tutor someone in their studies, it becomes important to me, it matters. I put some of myself into it: sweat, blood, tears and time (or some combination thereof). Similarly, God has an investment in us. Granted, he probably didn't break a sweat when he made the world, his blood was spilled for his creation, and many tears were probably shed while suffering with and for many people.
Then there's time. The Bible is specific about God committing not only time, but also care toward creating the world (many argue about the duration of the process, but that discussion is for another thread). He has placed in us a part of himself, or you could say he has made us in a part of himself: his image. Take a gander at the first couple chapters of Genesis, then immerse yourself in Psalm 139 to see how intimately he was involved in creating who you are.
Worth from PossessionAs I'm sure many of you can relate, I have odds and ends in my possession that would not bring me great returns on eBay, yet still have great worth to me. I may have assigned them great worth because of the history attached to them, or they may have become dear to me over time so that their worth has an intrinsic property. And while I do not 'own' my friends, I still use a possessive adjective when I describe them, and indeed,
my friends are very dear to me. Just as Paul called the Philippians his joy and his crown, so also do we acquire some measure of worth from those who love us.
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Worth from DesireReally basic descriptions of economics include 'supply' and 'demand'. The perceived value of items in a free market economy is determined by the quantity available and by how many and how badly people want it.
In heavenly economic terms, the supply is very limited. There is only one you. The demand on the other hand, is very great indeed. God the Father saw it fitting to sacrifice his Son to have you in his family, God the Son saw it fitting that he should lay his life down for yours to exchange his righteousness for our sin so we could be justified from our sins and so that the God the Holy Spirit could dwell in you to be your Guide, your Counselor, your Comforter, Teacher and Friend.
God so loved [insert your name here], that he gave his only begotten Son, so that if [insert your name here] believes in him, [insert your name here] would not perish, but have eternal life. And this is eternal life, that [insert your name here] may know the only true God, and Jesus Christ (the Son) whom he has sent.
That speaks to me of desire. God created you; wants to have you as an adopted child—an heir and a co-heir with Christ; and was willing to pay not just an arm and a leg, but his firstborn and only Son, so that you could be reconciled with him and live with him for eternity. That speaks to me of worth, and a worth that is built on something eternal and solid, not something temporal and fickle.
On what do you base your worth or your value?
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Comments (2)
My worth is based on my heritage as a child of God, on what He is making of me, and on the divine potential He has laid before me. And all of these are centered in the sacrifice Jesus made for me and for each of us. Without these I am in the deepest poverty, but with these I am rich beyond counting.
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