Valued by God

The Estate Manage valued a piece of land we jointly possessed and gave out laughable amount as its current market value. Seeing disapproval written all over our faces, he turned to one of us and said, "The topography is undulated".

I want to start by saying that anything that will last must first of all be tested and proven. Before a product is recommended for the public to buy, be it automobile, luxury items, or consumables, it is first subjected to internationally accepted standard tests. If it scales through, then it is recommended. The same way is our Christian Faith - it is intended to last a life time. God wants people to read through your life as a Christian and move up to victory, because your worth has been ascertained by God. You have been valued.

In the Bible, while Jesus is describing value, He likened the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all that he had and bought that field. He also said that this same kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls and when he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything that he had and bought it. In the world today, we all see the inordinate attachment to the value of things. We understand the worth of most things, at least in monetary value. If we want something badly enough, we usually figure a way to get it - by working harder, more overtime, second job, etc. When we then actually purchase that item, be it a car or house or education or other product or service, we understand its value by the price we paid for it.

The Lord is saying that a man who fully grasps the importance of the kingdom will pay whatever price is necessary to be part of the kingdom. It all comes back to knowing the worth of things. But here, in this article, we are concerned about our own worth. When God created the world, he saw that it was good, and then He created man in His own image to change its value. God saw in the beginning the great value of just one person. It was just one person that made God's creation better. So, the creation was no longer just "good," it became "very good".

The inclusion of man into the world made the world complete, it made the world full, it made the world special. Sadly, many people don't feel special. We look at our physical bodies and groan: too fat, too thin, too short, too tall, too bald, too hairy, too young, too old. We see ourselves physically and are unhappy with the image. Worse, when we look into the mirror of the soul, we are even more disheartened. We see our shortcomings, our weaknesses, our sins. We look deep inside and dislike what we find. It seems that special quality God put in us at the creation is gone. We don't feel special. And, worst of all, we can't see that special quality, that image of God, in other people, either. They let us down, they sin, they hurt us, they betray us and we can't see anything special about them.

Jesus says that people will pay whatever price is needed for anything which has the greatest value. God paid the greatest price for us that was possible. He allowed, and arranged for His Son to die in our place. God loved us enough; God sees enough worth in us that He allowed Jesus to die for us. No matter how foolish or stupid we might have been without God, He still sees the pearl in us, "a pearl of great price". We may have messed it up with sin and stupidity, but God still sees it. God sees the value in us that was, and is, worth the blood of Jesus. We are still special, in spite of our foolish sins and mistakes.

Friend, God values you, even the foolish you, enough to pay the greatest price of all. Now you can see yourself differently, and see your brothers and sisters differently, too. You may not always see the pearl in them, but God does. Jesus died for them, as well. If God sees their worth so clearly, you can begin to see that every person has a pearl within, a pearl worth saving. You now can forgive more easily, be more tolerant, be more eager to tell others of Jesus - because now you realize that everyone is hiding a pearl that is worth the price of the death of Jesus.

Value is important. Understanding the real worth of things is good for us. Tomorrow, as you rise to serve God, remember how precious you are in His sight. Recall that, to God, you are worth the blood of Jesus, His Son. As you encounter people throughout your day, know again their worth. Learn to look at yourself through God's eyes. Then look at other people as God looks at you.

Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int"l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria.

He is the editor of FOUNDATION SATELLITE magazine also published by the ministry. He pastors a Church in Bauchi and is married with two children.

You can reach him at: firebrandhq@yahoo.com or: 234 80 8181 829.

Website: http://www.palmgates.com or http://www.firebrandhq.com