Have you ever been to a yard sale? I find it fascinating to see just how many items a person has collected, some of which are unusual, other items appear to be outdated. Regardless of what I think, each of those items for sale holds a particular value in the owner's eyes. Perhaps it was a gift from a dear friend. Maybe it was something passed down from a parent or grandparent. Now the items are up for sale many times for mere pennies. Why is something that once held value being sold for next to nothing? The reasons may vary. The owner may be downsizing in preparation for relocating. The person may be in need of money and the yard sale is a quick way to make a few bucks. There's a saying that goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." This saying has significant meaning in those rare instances where someone will purchase something at a yard sale only to later discover the item belonged to or was the creation of a famous person. As a result an item seemingly worthless becomes exceedingly valuable and sells at auction for an unbelievable price! The item derives its value from the person who created it.
Our Value Comes From God Our Creator
God has a lot to say about our infinite value and worth. In Psalm 139 we read, "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV) emphasis mine. Each and every person is uniquely created by God. His signature is imprinted all over creation. When the psalmist acknowledges that he knows full well that God's works are wonderful, it is because the psalmist has come to understand that he is one of God's wonderful works of creation. In fact Paul states in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV) The word "handiwork" is literally translated "work of art." Perhaps you've heard the expression, "God don't make junk!" This expression is very true for every good thing He creates is a masterpiece. In our culture and in our world, we tend to place value on an object or even a person based on appearances. Is the object new or used? Is the item cheap or expensive? Is the person young or old? The implication being if we deem something useless or worthless it no longer holds any value. If we consider a person too old or infirmed, physically or mentally challenged they are seen as no longer useful to society. Objects that are perceived as no longer holding value are often thrown into the trash or given away. Likewise, people who are seen as useless are often isolated or locked away in a facility. However, nothing that God creates can be labeled useless or without value and that includes human beings. As the psalmist declared in Psalm 139 because God created us we are fearfully and wonderfully made! The idea behind being fearfully made is not about something to be afraid of but rather conveys the idea of awe and wonder that the God of the universe could create in such indescribable and diverse ways.
God Delights In His Creation
In my counseling practice I make it a point to tell every client if they remember nothing else from the session to remember they are valuable because they exist. God does not have to create nor is He forced to create anyone or anything. He delights in creating as we read in the Bible from the book of Genesis, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1 NIV) Additionally, the phrase "And God saw that it was good" is repeated 5 times in Genesis 1 ending with "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." (Genesis 1:31 NIV) when He saw the completion of His creation. God was expressing His approval, endorsement, and personal satisfaction of His work and the pinnacle of His creation was humanity. (Genesis 1:26-31) If this were not enough, God reinforced our value in sending His Son to die for the sins of the world and grant us eternal life. (John 3:16-17) I encourage you, the next time you find yourself questioning is there anything special about me? When the judgmental comments or the negative attitudes stir up a sense of worthlessness, remember this is not a yard sale or an auction where your value is determined by the highest bidder. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by a Sovereign God and there is nothing more valuable than what He has created. Therefore, you can confidently and boldly declare "I am because HE IS!
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Sheree
