Worth

One of the funniest websites (especially if you’re in a cynical mood) is despair.com. It presents the most bleak outlook on life. It has posters with “demotivational” sayings—posters like:
A picture of the running of the bulls with a saying, “Tradition: Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly stupid.” Or “Meetings: None of us is as dumb as all of us.” Or, “Doubt: In the battle between you and world, bet on the world.” It’s a whole website (meant to be funny) poking fun at motivational sayings. It makes its money on “demotivation”.

As I was looking at it and laughing, I came across one that just made me sad: “Worth: Just because you’re necessary doesn’t mean you’re important.” The reason why this particular one struck me is because I meet people every day who don’t think they make a difference—not just lost people, but Christians. First of all, lost people are just that…lost. And that “lost”ness is often accompanied by worthlessness. There are many Christians who take that first step, but never cultivate a relationship with God. There are many Christians who fall away, and in that detachment feel worthless. But God created us in His own image—a people with a purpose.

Genesis 1:27-28: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it...” and then He calls us “very good.”

I hope that nobody in this ministry EVER feels worthless. We are worth so much that God sent His only Son (what was most valuable to Him) to die for our sins. Therefore, our ministries and our lives on this earth are not worthless. We MEAN something. We make a difference. From the beginning, He desired that we inhabit and care for this earth and everything in it. Then, after “the fall”, after years of separation, and after the renewed hope in Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus tasked us with reaching and discipling every one in every nation. What an incredibly worthy task! Maybe even a little overwhelming.

I love the story about the man on a beach that is full of dying starfish that have washed ashore. This man begins picking them up one by one and throwing them back in the ocean so that they will survive. Another person says to him, “What are you doing? There are so many starfish washed up here, you can’t save them all. This is futile. You’re not making a difference at all….” The man replied to him as he threw in another starfish, “I made a difference to that one.”

That is us, each and every week…touching lives one by one. We are worthy because God made us in His image, and He died for us. They (the "lost") are worthy because He did the same for them. They just need someone to tell them about Him. But most of all, our God is worthy of everything we can give. He has given us a high calling. He has entrusted us with telling this world about Him, and modeling our lives for them to see His love, mercy and grace! “Worth: You are necessary and you are important.” And we have much work yet to do.

Philippians 1:3-6: "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Dear God, Thank You for not giving up on us. Thank You for going to such great efforts to redeem us. Thank You for giving our lives purpose. Help us to make a difference every day in the life of one, so that as we walk daily with You, we can show many Your love. Help us to accomplish all that You have for us to do.