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 When
Jesus taught his disciples not to worry about life, food or
raiment, he constantly reaffirmed such truths on the basis that
God can provide for their needs (Mt. 6:24-33). But there is an
underlying implication in each point he makes which silently
cries out — “YOU ARE IMPORTANT!” Notice: “If God cares
for each of the birds of the heavens; if he feeds them and one
does not fall to the ground without His notice, are you not MORE
IMPORTANT than the birds?” Again: “Are you not MORE
IMPORTANT than the lilies of the field which, though transitory,
are clothed in such beauty and splendor that they surpass
Solomon’s glory?”
However,
people have problems of feeling unimportant. For instance, a boy
who is jilted by his girlfriend can reach such a “low” that
he feels completely valueless. He decides life is not worth
living, takes a knife and slashes his wrists. He, then, makes a
desperate telephone call and his girlfriend rushes him to the
hospital. You see, he really did not want to die — he wanted
to feel important. But there is no need to take such a drastic
chance — the line could be busy.
On
some occasions children do some things which are socially
unacceptable in order to be noticed by other human beings. This
reinstates their feelings of importance. Consider the little boy
who, because he was not allowed to interrupt adults, stood in
the background until he got to feeling desperate, so he walked
up and kicked the preacher in the shins. He got plenty of
attention then. Others will use gutter expletives or join a
radical group because they are recognized
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and made to feel like “somebody.” And
someone else might compensate for incompetence by bragging about
his prowess.
YOU
ARE IMPORTANT! “I am fearfully and wonderfully made...“ the
Psalmist said (Psa. 139:14). When God formed the first man and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, man was God’s
special creation in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7), but so
are you — each of you. Elihu said to Job, I also am formed out
of the clay,” (Job 33:6). Each of you is an individual made in
the image of God. You are of great value to your maker.
Because
you are made in God’s image, you are also important to
yourself. Jesus said, “For whosoever would save his life shall
lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall
find it. For what shall a man be profited if he shall gain the
whole world and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his life?” (Mt. 16:25-26). There is nothing so
valuable as your soul, hence, the utmost effort should be given
to its eternal salvation.
But
you are also important to me, “For I seek not yours, but
you...” (2 Cor. 12:14). I will, therefore, gladly spend and be
spent to help you. Do not ever believe that no one cares what
happens to you or that you. are worthless and life is not worth
living. You are a unique individual — there is no one else
just like you — and you are priceless to God, to yourself and
to me. — Jim R. Everett
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