Value

I read this story recently: A young man’s grandfather had passed away and even though he was well to do, the only thing the grandfather left him was an old violin. Now the young man did not play the violin so he felt it was worthless to him, and was upset with his grandfather for such a gift. He took it to the local music store and the clerk told him it was old, dusty and worth about $50. So he put an ad in the paper to sell it. He posted an ad for $50 and when a man came to look at the violin, he was in shock. The man was a concert violinist and well known for his amazing ability to play. The man told the young man that he could not pay $50 for this violin, that he would give him $20,000 because it was a rare Stradivarius. Now grandfather’s note made more sense. It said “Never judge a book by it’s cover and never take someone elses’ word on the worth of a person.

 The right place values you the right way,” If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you...... Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.”

I know for myself, I can look back on my life and see a few times I was not in a place where is was “valued”. When I stayed, I was miserable.

I didn’t realize that I was not “valued”, I just realized I wasn’t happy. Especially when I was younger and definitely a “baby” Christian, so I didn’t understand God’s love. You hear about God’s love your whole life but there has to be a day when you say “OH! I GET IT!!” I think it was a gradual climb getting to the point of understanding how incredible his love is, and with that said, I think I am only part way up that mountain because I truly doubt we can fully understand God’s love with these little minds of ours. Our minds are so finite. God is so infinite.

Sadly, until we at least grasp a part of that love, we cannot be whole people. God built us with a God shaped hole in our hearts that only He can fill. We can pursue all kinds of amazing things, money, wisdom, power, status. We can fill our lives with amazing things, especially once we have made that money. But there will always be a voice calling us. So softly, so gently, “COME, come to me!” If we fill our lives with all of these things and do not make time for him, how can we answer that call? Yep, we go to church on Sunday, most of the time. (that is 1 hour this week). We pray, because we need things, and that is legitimate, but I realized, that I am like that adult child that just left home. He only calls when he needs something. It would be nice to hear from him when he is just calling to share his day. I am sure Jesus feels that way too.

Genesis 1:26: "You are valuable because of who you are. You are made in God's image, according to His likeness"

Matthew 10:29-31: Jesus says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows"

Proverbs 3:13-15. "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

Dear Lord, Help us to seek you! Help us to seek wisdom and understanding so that we may know our value. Our value is in you. Our worth is in your heart. Some may not give us “value” but you always will, because you are our maker and you love us more than we could ever comprehend. Thank you for salvation and all you do for us in love.  Amen

Shirlene Peterson