By Christina Draper
What defines our worth?
Not until recently did I realize that my views on worth and value were entirely inaccurate. For too long my value was wrapped up in others’ opinions and in my acts of service to others, rather than on what God thought of me.
Worth was something I had to earn. I could not see my value or worth in myself as a person.
I have a feeling many other women feel the same as I do, but why is that? I think it's because our view of worth has been distorted by society, impacted by other Christians, and misunderstood in our own minds.
What does the world say about our worth? Society leads us to believe that our value comes from how we measure up to the world’s standards. Our life is defined by our appearance, our intelligence, and our abilities: the grander the better. We have to gain wealth and success or else we don’t matter.
This mindset easily spills over into the Christian community - both with the young and old. If you don’t post what verses you read today then did you really read them? Do you understand all the intricate details of Scripture? Are you serving enough? If we just try hard enough or pray hard enough then we will be worthy, right?
Do you see the flaw in that mindset? I confess that I didn’t for a long time. Comparison stole my joy. I determined my worth by what I did for others and God. I measured myself by what others did and how I perceived them to be.
I thought that if I devoted enough time to reading my Bible that I would gain favor with God. Good things would be brought my way because I was suddenly worthy of them, right?
Wrong.
I had let society and even my own environment and anxieties contort my views of worth. I still do often, but now I know where my worth comes from. It comes from God.
So, what does God say about our worth?
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6
God called us worthy before time. We were created in His image. In Ephesians 1 we read that before the foundations of the world were even put into place, God chose us to be a part of His family. We hadn’t even had the opportunity to do anything yet and He still chose us.
In God’s eyes, our value is not conditional. We cannot earn the love that is freely given to us. We are chosen not for what we do, but for who we are in Christ. Nothing makes us unworthy of love in God’s eyes.
Let the weight of responsibility slip off your shoulders. Breathe in His grace and rejoice in the truth that you have value in God’s eyes just as you are. Praise Him for His grace, mercy, and kindness.
Remember who you are in Him. You are loved. You are chosen. You are worthy.