What are you worth?
Rev. Norbert Tegtmeier
Friday, February 3, 2012
What are you worth? Has anyone ever asked you that question? What exactly do they mean when they ask that question? Well, maybe you have asked yourself that question and in answer to the question you begin to add up the value of your home, the furniture in your home, your vehicles, your savings accounts, your investments, everything that you can think of, and you come up with this bottom line and you say, this is what I am worth. That is how the world does it, right? IRS wants to know what you are worth. Your banker, before he loans you any money, wants to know what you are worth, and maybe even those who will receive your inheritance want to know what you are worth. So often this world bases the value of a human being on the bottom line, on what they are worth financially.
When society bases ‘value’ on the possessions that we have accumulated in life, it leaves a lot of people feeling worthless and hopeless. There is no way I’ll ever amount to anything. And so, people live in despair, feeling worthless as a person, and many times envious of others who seem to have money in abundance. On the other hand, it also leads people to do anything to get that money. Greed runs rampant and people will lie, cheat or steal to get ahead. We see it in some of our leaders, in the business world as well as the personal lives of those we know.
What are you worth? Jesus, speaking to His disciples says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” God values you, no matter whether you are young or old, rich or poor, in a position of authority or a ditch digger. God values you! Every man, woman, and child is of great value in the eyes of this great and awesome God.
In a few weeks we will begin our Lenten journey to the cross and the empty tomb. It is there, as we follow Jesus on His journey to the cross, that we learn how much this great God values us. We are worth so much to Him that He sacrificed Himself on the cross of Calvary so that you and I and the people of this world may receive the greatest inheritance ever given-life in the glories of heaven. In the most familiar passage of Scripture Jesus says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” If you ever doubt that you are worth anything go back to the foot of the cross and hear Jesus say, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” In those agonizing words, Jesus reminds us that we are worth so much to Him that He was willing to suffer the very torments of hell so that we might be the richest people in the world, people who have been granted forgiveness and life. God values you!
As you and I live in this community may we begin to see each other through the eyes of God. Everyday may you and I value each other. May we see the value in our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends, our family. No matter what our ‘bottom line’ is, may we treat others as though they were the most important people in the world. May we live to build each other up in Christ, and come to know that our worth comes not in what we accumulate but our worth comes in Jesus, our Savior!