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Value in Man’s Eyes, in God’s Eyes
“Son, you ain’t worth a plug nickel.” These thoughts are sometimes expressed and many times thought when man assesses another man. Sometimes people assess themselves in an overly critical way and don’t see any value to their lives.
When I look at myself relative to God, His power, His glory, His grace, His mercy, His love and His many other attributes, I seem to be nothing or less than nothing. I am not worthy of my salvation, haven’t earned it, don’t deserve it.
Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
For my salvation, I am totally dependent on God’s mercy and grace. As one author put it “grace” is what I don’t deserve (eternal life), and “mercy” is God not giving me what I do deserve (eternal punishment). Every sinner must recognize their own unworthiness relative to God’s infinite love, mercy and justice>
Rom 3:22-26 For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
When Christ told His listeners at the “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit , For theirs is the kingdom of heaven,“ He was indicating how the citizen in the new kingdom should recognize they are destitute (poor) when they compare their lives with God’s rule and standard for man.
I think Peter recognized this in John 6:68, But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Christ had just asked, “Would you leave me too?” Peter knew that life without Christ was no life.
The reason I have any value as a person is because God sees value in man, His special creation. We are created “in His image.” Christ said in Luke 12:6 "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
But our value is high in God’s eyes for another reason; His Son’s precious blood was shed for our sake. 1 Peter 1:18 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. “
My salvation was of a value that was far in excess of what I could ever earn, work for, or deserve. I can take advantage of the calling of God to those who would be reconciled to Him through the blood of His Precious Son through my faithful obedience.
As I see my self realistically, I am worth nothing when compared to God’s high standard, but when I see how my Father values me with the gift of His Son then I can see that my spiritual life is of high value and costs much.
1 Cor 15:57 “But thanks be to God , who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. “
2 Cor 2:14, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,”
2 Cor 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! “
