Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 1 Corinthians 1:28
A SCIENTIST once stated that every dry pound of human being is worth about $112,247. Since about 68 percent of your body is water, you can calculate your dry weight by multiplying your full weight by 0.32. Then figure your total value by multiplying that dry weight by $112,247. If you weigh 125 pounds, for example, your 40 pounds of dry weight is worth a whopping $4.5 million!
You might wish that you could hunt down that scientist and make him cough up the money. Being worth $4.5 million doesn’t matter, of course, if no one is willing to pay the price.
Fact is, most of us have times when we don’t feel worth much at all. You feel useless to yourself, to others, and to God. When you judge your worth by the world’s standards, you discover that you don’t measure up. When you compare yourself to people around you, you seem foolish and weak.
Well, God has a smashing plan for you. Not to smash you, but the system of thinking that calls you stupid and scrawny.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:27, God has chosen the foolish things of this world to shame the wise, and he has chosen the weak things to shame the strong. This means that God can use your “foolishness” (your lack of brilliance, popularity, or experience) and your “weakness” (lack of strength, good looks, or abilities) to discredit the world’s system. How? By demonstrating his power through you. God’s power makes you adequate for every responsibility he’s given you. Second Corinthians 3:5 says, “It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.”
A price far bigger than mere bucks has already been paid for you-the infinitely valuable blood of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to bring you to God.
So how can you tell how much you’re really worth? Just figure up how much the life of Christ was worth. First Peter 1:18-19 gives you a hint: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”
You are exceedingly valuable. You are worth Jesus! Ponder that -and when you do, the fact of your worth will revolutionize your life.
REFLECT: So what are you worth? What does Christ’s death have to do with your worth?
PRAY: Spend some moments with Christ right now asking him to flood your mind with the reality of your value to him.
