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Life in Christ

Defining Your Self Worth

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14).

How do you define your self-worth? Do you define it based on your money? Is it based on what you have achieved professionally? Do you define your value based on the number of children you have, or who likes you, or what you look like?  Is It based on your past?  Your future?  Your present? 

Many of us have sought to determine our self-worth based on the amount of money we have. This is a dangerous trap. Paul warns us against seeking to build wealth in order to gain greater value. Paul understood that the greatest riches could not compare with knowing Christ. In fact, he considered all other things to be rubbish: “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8).

Basing our self-worth on how much money we have or our achievements is an easy trap. We are constantly given messages that say we are defined by what we have done, where we live, how many toys we own, and the size of our houses.

Paul said the purpose for his existence was……”to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).

There are many things we can use to define our self-worth. However, the Scriptures tell us there is only one true measure for our self-worth. Each of us has self-worth because we are made in the image of God. And because we are made in the image of God, we are valuable.

Whenever you think of your value is based on some worldly criteria, you have rejected God’s view of your worth. Whose opinion do you have more faith in: yours or God’s?

Posted: July 17th, 2008 under Life in Christ.
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Neighbors

Who is your neighbor? The people who live next door? The guys who have lockers next to you? The people who you work with? Think about it. Check out what Jesus said: Luke 10:25-37

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The man who asked the question was Jewish. The one who got beaten on the road. was also Jewish. Jewish people passionately hated the Samaritans and the Samaritans hated the Jews.  In the story, one Jewish person after another walked past the hurting man. Only the despised Samaritan treated his “enemy” as a person who needed help.  He saw beyond the labels and the colors, beyond the appearance, to someone worth loving and caring about.

Jesus’ story gives us three truths to keep in mind when it comes to loving our neighbors:

1.Our neighbor is anyone - no matter what race, color, creed or social background -who needs help.

2. We can always justify or rationalize not helping someone., but doing so is never right

3. Loving our neighbor means acting in order to meet that person’s need.

So look around, right where you are: Who is your neighbor?

Posted: July 8th, 2008 under Life in Christ.
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Pondering God

Abraham Heschel once wrote:

“Living is not a private affair of the individual.

Living is what man does with God’s time,

what man does in God’s world.”

What have you done in God’s creation today?  In what ways have you brought God’s Kingdom into this world?  What more could you do today?  Give thanks to God for all that He has led you to today!  Praise Him for His wonderful love and mercy!

Posted: July 3rd, 2008 under Life in Christ.
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