You are valuable - 11/10/19
The Big Idea
You are valuable because of the value God places in you.
What do we know?
What makes something valuable? Is it what it’s made of? Is it the price that it’s given? Is it how old it is? For something to be valuable, the value has to be given by someone. Do you know what the most expensive painting ever sold was and for how much? The painting by Leonardo da Vinci called "Salvator Mundi" was sold in an auction in 2017 for $450 million. The poster-sized painting was created by da Vinci around 1500. BTW, the painting is of Jesus and Salvador Mundi means ‘Savior of the World’.
From what you now know of the painting, how could it be $450 million? First, it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci, one of, if not, the greatest artist ever. Next, it is over 500 years old and restored to great shape. Lastly, someone wanted it very bad. They knew it’s value would only continue to grow.
So what makes you valuable? Simply put, you are valuable because of the value God places within you. Let me say that again: You are valuable because of the value God places within you. Now you say it: I am valuable because of the value God places within me.
You are valuable
So how valuable are you? The great theologian R.C. Sproul recalled when he was in high school, his biology teacher said his value was $24.37. This was determined based on the minerals in the body like zinc, potassium, and copper. That would be the equivalent for us of around $200. This is like saying you are only as valuable as your physical attributes. Then what does that mean for someone who isn’t able to walk or has other physical challenges? What about other challenges, say mental? Are they less valuable?
We are valuable because we are made in God’s image. Human beings, men and women, were made by God to represent Him. Think about that for a moment. Genesis 1:26–27 tells us, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Believing we have an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God that created all things and reigns eternally, being made as an image-bearer, His representative, can be a challenge to understand.
So how do we comprehend and understand “in our image”? We hear the word image and it makes us think “look like”. Someone has likely said to you “Oh, you look just like your mom” or “You and your dad are just alike”. God created us to be similar to Him, to represent Him on the earth. Nothing else that was created, of all that God created, was made to be similar to Him. What types of similarities could we have with God? Rationality and logic? What about a sense of morality, judgement, and justice? Let’s not forget graciousness and mercifulness. These are all characteristics we see from God throughout scripture.
All these things just called out are within us, God-placed, and not physical attributes of us. They are things we get from God and represent Him with and nothing is mentioned of how our physical size has anything to do to exemplify God. In fact, 2 Corinthians 4:7 says that “we have this treasure in jars of clay”, meaning that God has placed within us treasure but our physical, mortal body is like fragile pottery. He has priceless things wrapped up in a thin candy shell called humans. We put a lot of focus on what we look like, what we wear, etc. God’s like, “you are how I choose for you to be to show My glory”.
One last thing about being in God’s image, which has to do with the responsibility He gave us. When someone trusts you with something, what does that say about you? A common thought is that we have earned the right to be trusted. We have done something well time and time again and deserve the right to be given more responsibility. Sound about right? Have you considered the trust being given is because of the giver and not from our earning? Look back at Genesis 1:26 again where God said “let them have dominion”. At this point, we haven’t heard about Adam and Eve yet. God had decided before Adam and Eve did a single thing they would be more valuable than anything else He created. We know this because it was them, continuing on to us, that would look after what He created.
Don’t focus on what you aren’t
What happens when we don’t like something about ourselves? We usually just deny God what He is doing through us don’t we? Wait, what?! Not the answer you thought, huh? Follow me for a minute. When we don’t like something about us, we will say how much we hate whatever it is or that whatever it is could be better. Let’s say you aren’t as tall as you’d like to be and you really want to be a great volleyball player. You create an image in your mind that only tall people can be great at volleyball and then become discouraged. Why has God done this to you? We’ll come back to you in a bit.
John 9 introduces us to a man that has been blind since he was born. Growing up in first century Israel would not have been easy for him. If he lived in areas around Jerusalem, he would have had challenges getting from place to place, even with help from others. Israel is not a flat and smooth country. It would have been quite rocky then and navigating from place to place would be difficult. We have things in our day that would be luxuries compared to ancient Israel. Sidewalks with audio cues when to cross a street? Not back then. Service dogs or guide dogs? Probably not. This guy’s life would have been rough. We are told he was a beggar, needing the constant help of others to survive. How many times do you think he prayed to God to let him see? To fix his eyes?
Enter Jesus. As Jesus and the disciples were traveling one day they encountered this blind man. John 9:2-3 tells us what was going on and verses 6-7 tell us what Jesus did. (v.2-3) “And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.’ (v.6-7) Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.”
Look again at what Jesus said. “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Remember all that Jesus says and does is intentional, not random. The blind man was where he was supposed to be and how he was supposed to be for the glory of God to be shown at the right time. His blindness was to show what Jesus’ authority over all things was to look like. This man, once he was given sight, had a testimony that could only claim Jesus as Lord. What Jesus did to this man’s physical blindness, he is doing to our spiritual blindness. When we are spiritually blind we can only focus on the physical challenges we don’t like. When Jesus opens our eyes, our focus should change and be changing to recognize that we are going to be His workmanship in whatever way he wants.
Now, let’s get back to you and volleyball. You were discouraged and wondered why God made you how you are. We can feel that way at times. Our plans and His don’t always align. Looking in the mirror and seeing the “jar of clay” you can do one of two things - you can use it to the full value God has given or be mad and continually ask why. Let me recommend the first option and not the second (go read Romans 9:20). You may not be tall but if a passion for volleyball is what you have and a love for what Jesus commands is what you want to live out, put them together. Become a libero, the most skilled defensive player on the team. Be tough. Be quick. Encourage your teammates. Share the gospel! Not only can you be a great volleyball player, but you will be where God placed you to bring Him glory. You will be displaying all the value that was given to you by Him. Praise be to Him!
Now what?
We get the luxury of perspective when we read what Jesus accomplished. We even get insight into what he is going to do when he returns. What we don’t get is a sneak peek of how we do on our upcoming math test, or if our volleyball team wins the state championship.
Then what do we do? We use what He has given us, recognizing the value He has put in us, and we glorify Him with what He puts in front of us. We put scripture in our minds and in our hearts. We remember the love Jesus told us to give and we give it as best we can. We don’t look at things we don’t have and say “we can’t unless…”. We see the things we do have and say “I will with all You have given”.
Remember, we were broken from sin but Jesus fixed that. Our eternal blindness was wiped from our eyes.
What does scripture tell us?
Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
John 9:2-3
And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Romans 9:20
But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
Resources
Read about the Salvador Mundi