What are you worth? A question many of us ask. Especially the small business owner. From assessing the value of time to how much the cost of material costs. Did something need shipped or did they buy supplies at retail as opposed to wholesale? Every little detail analyzed with a value determined. A process with a never ending cycle. But, this isn't about the small business owner. It's about us as people. It's about the people I work with, the many people I shuttle around as an Uber driver, about myself, my family. It's about you, the reader.
Sadly, the value of self is crippling our society. We doubt our existence is worth it. We question if anyone really cares about us. We question the motives of others and if we're just being used for their selfish pleasures. We indulge in pleasure and then question why we put ourselves in places and situations we will regret. Our bosses over work us; our kids don't respect us; our employees think we do nothing to better the company; the thoughts running in our minds and the harsh words on social media are trapped in our heads. We suck, we aren't worth much when we screw up; anything and everything wrong with us is magnified.
Over the past week plus the conversations I have participated in and overheard is proving this. My own struggles are confirming and reflecting that of society. We are sinking our own ships because we can't see/don't know our value. Be it our value to ourselves, our families or anyone else on a very long list of others that put any value into us. Add to this, we don't truly understand the impact we have on each other, and the value we can create in others, be it for a few minutes or a few years.
Over the past week plus the conversations I have participated in and overheard is proving this. My own struggles are confirming and reflecting that of society. We are sinking our own ships because we can't see/don't know our value. Be it our value to ourselves, our families or anyone else on a very long list of others that put any value into us. Add to this, we don't truly understand the impact we have on each other, and the value we can create in others, be it for a few minutes or a few years.
So, what are we really worth? To our parents, when we were younger we were their world. We had value! For some of us, we still have that value. Unfortunately, some of us don't know our parents anymore as we are estranged to those we thought loved us. So much for family.
Our formidable years have us, "finding ourselves," as we study, walk halls filled with others presumably like us, or working our first jobs and most importantly fellowshipping with peers we call friends. Suddenly, a collection of cool kids, jocks, nerds, stoners and loners complete these years by walking across a stage; somehow thinking we've succeeded and I get to hang with my friends all the time now! Within a couple of months, so many of those friends have moved on to their next chapter in life. Stuck between being a kid and being an adult, we found ourselves having lost everything we knew as routine and replaced it with the uncertainty of what adulthood is. More of our self perceived value is gone, just like the routine we once had with school.
Our formidable years have us, "finding ourselves," as we study, walk halls filled with others presumably like us, or working our first jobs and most importantly fellowshipping with peers we call friends. Suddenly, a collection of cool kids, jocks, nerds, stoners and loners complete these years by walking across a stage; somehow thinking we've succeeded and I get to hang with my friends all the time now! Within a couple of months, so many of those friends have moved on to their next chapter in life. Stuck between being a kid and being an adult, we found ourselves having lost everything we knew as routine and replaced it with the uncertainty of what adulthood is. More of our self perceived value is gone, just like the routine we once had with school.
So many adults seemingly joke about not wanting to, "adult." Truth: I agree! I don't want to adult either. Being an adult is brutal. From bills, full time jobs with bosses begging us to do more than is possible, spouses (or significant others), families relying on us, caring for our aging parents and so much more that adult life brings. These responsibilities suck. But, it also means we are of value to someone. We are loved and needed by people. Hopefully, we are placing that same value in people. Finally, we have value. Or, at least we think we do and hope our thoughts are reality.
Truth is, we do have value. No matter how hard it is for us to get out of our own way and believe in our own value, we are worth so much more than what we believe. We tend to not believe in our own value because we don't hear/see that value as often as we need. What is that value though?
What would happen if we really knew how valuable we were? What would happen if others knew how much we valued their presence in our lives? How different would your world be if you put value in both yourself and those around you? What kind of value would you add when you show a complete stranger that you care about them because they too have value in this world? How many marriages could survive the test of daily tribulations if we knew how much value our spouses had, and we could show them that value? How many of our youth would stop killing themselves if they knew how much they meant to us - their parents/grandparents/teachers/friends? However, all of these questions can't be answered until we can grasp how much value we have through the eyes of God.
As mere humans we have no ability to comprehend how much love/value God places in each of us. I can't explain why he loves and cares about us. I'm never gonna understand why he places so much value in me. Or you. What I do know is that if he cares so much about you and I (he allowed his son to die), then I should probably find ways to place a sliver of that value in people. I need to be the one who helps others place value in themselves and those they live with. Is it possible, that small acts of adding value into others can change the worlds we live in?
I have hope. I tend to over analyze a lot of things. But this; over analyzing our value (independently and corporately), is impossible. How amazing it is knowing that someone believes in us, supports us and knows how valuable they think we are. They know that without us their life isn't complete. Their life would have a huge hole in it if we aren't around. More importantly, what an amazing gift we have knowing that no matter what, no matter how alone we are/may be, despite how invaluable we feel, that there is a God and father in heaven that will do anything to show us he loves us and we are so precious and valuable to him.
So to that young lady about to go home with a random guy from the bar: you're worth more.
To the wife whose husband has left her and their kids because of a moment of fleeting fun with another woman: you're worth more.
To the young man that is about to have another one night stand: you're worth more.
To the teenager ready to hang themselves: let us hang onto the rope for you; you're worth more.
To the young adult with a bottle of prescriptions about to swallow them all: you're worth more.
To the young man with a gun to his head because no one understands how alone you are: you are never alone; you're worth more.
To the couple that questions is the effort worth it: you're worth more together, the work will pay off.
To the pastor wondering if he is making any difference in people: you are, and you're worth more than the doubt you are gripped by currently.
To the teacher that wonders is any of your students listen: they do and you're worth more teaching them than starting over in a new career.
To the single person looking for a hook up every weekend: you're worth more, just be patient.
We all have our doubts, our fears, our questions, our loneliness and more. But, we're worth so much more. Can we start showing it to those we come into contact with with more urgency? More intentional words of worth? Will we believe that a death of his son is enough proof of the worth God has put in us? I promise, I'm gonna work on it. I may fail, but I'm gonna work on it. Will you join me?
This song has brought me to tears many times over the last year. Please, listen.
What would happen if we really knew how valuable we were? What would happen if others knew how much we valued their presence in our lives? How different would your world be if you put value in both yourself and those around you? What kind of value would you add when you show a complete stranger that you care about them because they too have value in this world? How many marriages could survive the test of daily tribulations if we knew how much value our spouses had, and we could show them that value? How many of our youth would stop killing themselves if they knew how much they meant to us - their parents/grandparents/teachers/friends? However, all of these questions can't be answered until we can grasp how much value we have through the eyes of God.
As mere humans we have no ability to comprehend how much love/value God places in each of us. I can't explain why he loves and cares about us. I'm never gonna understand why he places so much value in me. Or you. What I do know is that if he cares so much about you and I (he allowed his son to die), then I should probably find ways to place a sliver of that value in people. I need to be the one who helps others place value in themselves and those they live with. Is it possible, that small acts of adding value into others can change the worlds we live in?
I have hope. I tend to over analyze a lot of things. But this; over analyzing our value (independently and corporately), is impossible. How amazing it is knowing that someone believes in us, supports us and knows how valuable they think we are. They know that without us their life isn't complete. Their life would have a huge hole in it if we aren't around. More importantly, what an amazing gift we have knowing that no matter what, no matter how alone we are/may be, despite how invaluable we feel, that there is a God and father in heaven that will do anything to show us he loves us and we are so precious and valuable to him.
So to that young lady about to go home with a random guy from the bar: you're worth more.
To the wife whose husband has left her and their kids because of a moment of fleeting fun with another woman: you're worth more.
To the young man that is about to have another one night stand: you're worth more.
To the teenager ready to hang themselves: let us hang onto the rope for you; you're worth more.
To the young adult with a bottle of prescriptions about to swallow them all: you're worth more.
To the young man with a gun to his head because no one understands how alone you are: you are never alone; you're worth more.
To the couple that questions is the effort worth it: you're worth more together, the work will pay off.
To the pastor wondering if he is making any difference in people: you are, and you're worth more than the doubt you are gripped by currently.
To the teacher that wonders is any of your students listen: they do and you're worth more teaching them than starting over in a new career.
To the single person looking for a hook up every weekend: you're worth more, just be patient.
We all have our doubts, our fears, our questions, our loneliness and more. But, we're worth so much more. Can we start showing it to those we come into contact with with more urgency? More intentional words of worth? Will we believe that a death of his son is enough proof of the worth God has put in us? I promise, I'm gonna work on it. I may fail, but I'm gonna work on it. Will you join me?
This song has brought me to tears many times over the last year. Please, listen.
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