Your Value
Dr. Rikki Permenter
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.“So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:30-31
In counseling, I see a good number of clients who don’t realize their worth and value. They think they are unimportant, unloved, unknown, or overlooked. They don’t see their value to others around them. Usually, this stems is a negative frame of reference. A negative frame of reference is when you disregard the good things you hear or see about yourself and over emphasize the negative things to hear or see about yourself. An easy way to spot this in yourself or others if when you take your weaknesses and compare them to others who have those things as strengths. Then you take your strengths and discount them as “well, anyone can do that” or “that isn’t a big deal, it’s easy.”
A few Sundays ago I did Children’s time for our church. I had a twenty dollar bill and asked the kids if they wanted it. Of course they all said “yes!” I asked them why they wanted it and they all told me in different ways that it was worth $20 and they could buy things with it. I folded it in half and asked “What about now? It is folded. Do you still want it?” and they all said “yes.” because it was still worth $20. I then crumpled it up and threw it to the ground and stepped on it. I asked again, “what about now?” Each child still wanted it. They knew that it didn’t matter what happened to the bill that it was still worth $20.
While it is easy to see a twenty is worth twenty dollars no matter what shape it is in, it is hard to see our own worth no matter what shape we’re in. It is like we trust the bank more than God. The bank says a twenty has value and we believe them. God says we have value and worth but we don’t always believe Him. We have worth and value to God because he made us and gave us inherent value. Just like that twenty was made to hold twenty dollars worth of value, we are made in God’s image hold the value of a child of God. We have inherent worth and value to Him, we were made that way. Do you have a negative frame of reference? Think it over today and decide to view yourself with all the value and worth God has made you with.
This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.
