Scripture: Luke 6:17-26; Genesis 39:1-23; (Call to worship - Psalm 8)
Theme: Recognizing Your Worth
Title: God Says: You Are Priceless!
INTRO:
Grace and peace to everyone in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I want to talk to you this morning about recognizing your true worth. I want to talk to you about recognizing how valuable; how priceless you are to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
It is vital for us this morning that we understand our worth; our value in God's eyes. It is important because far too many people have based their self-worth on other things like:
+How other human beings treat them - what they say to them, what they say about them or how they act around them
+What accomplishments or achievements they believe that they have either attained or not attained in this life
+What house they live in or car that they are able to drive or how much money they have in their bank accounts
It is easy to get caught up into thinking that you are only worth what others say you are worth. After all that is how our world judges us. But how the world judges us and what the world says about us is not always the truth especially when it comes to what you are worth in the heart of our Heavenly Father.
As I said, it's easy to get caught up into thinking that you only as valuable as the world says you are valuable. But the world has a rather skewed view of what it considers valuable.
For example:
Some years back after Super Bowl LI was finished New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's game jersey went missing. It was suppose to be on the equipment truck but someone had been able to sneak in and steal the jersey.
Fans of the Patriots went into a panic. Mr. Robert Kraft (the owner of the Patriots) condemned the theft and publicly stated that he considered the jersey to be worth as much as a Picasso painting. Who in the world would take such a valuable jersey? Did they even know how much pain and suffering they were causing?
Things then got a little silly. Or at least from my perspective (and I am a Patriots fan) they got a little silly. A jersey that anyone can go on line and buy for around $ 120.00 swiftly took center stage. Suddenly, this used, grass stained, sweaty jersey was reported to be worth as much as $ 500,000.00.
The FBI, local Texas authorities and the NFL all began a joint investigation that spread out over the next few weeks. Hundreds of man hours were spent looking at video tape and investigating possible leads that in the end became an international incident. The person who reportedly took the jersey worked for a media firm in Mexico so the Mexican government had to enter into the investigation. Ultimately the jersey was found along with some other items and they were returned to Brady. Case solved.
I am really glad that Tom got his jersey back. But to seriously think that a stinky jersey that anyone can buy for around $ 120.00 is suddenly worth $ 500,000 is to begin to allow the world to warp your thinking. And that is what the world does. It puts high values on things that are not really that valuable.
For years the world has done that in the diamond business. Before 1938 nearly 90% of people didn't use a diamond as part of an engagement ring. While diamonds were considered valuable they were also considered unnecessary. Most people got married without an engagement ring. Wedding ring - Yes. Engagement ring - not so much.
That all began to change in 1938. One of the largest diamond suppliers determined that they would see if they could figure out a way to get more people to buy their diamonds. Since the discovery of the South African diamond mines way back in 1870 the company had accumulated a large stock pile of diamonds. They needed to find a way to sell those diamonds but at the same time they wanted very much to make a nice little profit.
In 1938, the De Beers company decided to hired Gerold Lauck and the N. W. Ayer advertising agency to see if they could create an environment in which almost every person pledging marriage would feel compelled to buy a diamond engagement ring. Mr. Ayer and his company went to work. They set about the task of trying to convince Americans that marriages without a diamond engagement ring were incomplete.
Within a few years their campaigns were a major triumph. They had successfully changed the hearts and minds of American couples and couples all over the globe. By 1942, over 55% of Americans were using diamonds as the center piece of their engagement rings.
Then in 1948 a lady by the name of Frances Gerety came up with the iconic signature line that has stayed put to this day when people think of diamonds. Ms. Gerety had planned, written and helped design all of De Beer's ads. One night before bed an idea for a new slogan came to her mind. She wrote it down and the next morning after reviewing it she presented it at the morning meeting.
At first no one seemed particularly enthusiastic. Her slogan was seen as rather humdrum. But for some reason the company picked it up even though they didn't believe that it would take hold. Not only did it take hold but it became one of the top slogans created in the 20th century. That slogan - "A diamond is forever".
The idea was that a diamond, like a relationship was to be eternal. By giving your loved one a diamond you were saying that you wanted this relationship to last forever. Diamonds and marital bliss were now a matched set.
By the 1980's the diamond business once again began to suffer. Sales were flat and profits were low. In response a new idea surfaced. Instead of advertising that a person should spend at least a month's salary for a diamond the companies promoted two months. The ads said things like - "Isn't two month's salary a small price to pay for something that lasts forever?"
Recently, the diamond companies have tried to up it again to three months along with some other interesting ideas:
- The hotter you think your bride or wife is the larger ring you should buy so that you can tell her, her friends and anyone else that you consider her a 10 instead of an 8 or 6.
-You also are to buy a ring the size equivalent to the age of the woman. If a man proposes to a 20 year old then it should be a 2 carat diamond. If it is to a 32 year old then it should be a 3.2 carat diamond.
Wow! What happens if you are a late bloomer or are simply into older women.
-You are to use the vehicle formula. However much your prospective husband has paid for his vehicle, he is to spend the same amount on your ring
It doesn't take long to realize that the diamond business is like the world - it doesn't sell things for their actual worth but for what it can make people think they are worth.
This morning, it is so vital to remember that our value is not based on what we do, what we have or even who we know. If we believe that then when we no longer are in the spot light, when we no longer can bring home a great paycheck or when we no longer have a certain title then we will begin to believe that we are no longer worthy. We will begin to think that we are worthless and merely taking up space.
And the sad truth this morning is that there are billions of people all over God's wonderful creation that believe that lie. They believe that just because they don't have what other people have then they are worthless. They believe that just because they no longer have a title or a position they are worthless. They believe that just because they no longer are making the "big bucks" that they are no longer valuable.
The truth is the very opposite.
I. God says that we are all valuable right now.
We are all made in the image of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. We are all one of a kind masterpieces. None of us were made on some assembly line. None of us are carbon copies. There is no one else like you in the world. We all were created by the LORD GOD Himself.
This is what the LORD told the Prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:5 New International Version (NIV)
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
This is what the Psalmist understood
"For you (God) have made him (humans) a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor." - Psalm 8:5
"For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." - Psalm 139:14 -15
Now, that is some very high favor and blessing. Each one of us here this morning was created to be just a bit lower than an angel. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:3 that one day we will judge angels. In other words one day we will be over angels.
So, the person that is sitting right beside you or in front of you or behind you this morning - they were created a little lower than an angel in heaven and one day will judge angels if they allow Jesus to rescue them, redeem them and restore them into a person of holiness.
This morning - God wants all of us to know - We are Worthy - We are His Masterpieces - We are made in His Image to reflect His Glory and Honor.
II. Now, of course we can become conceited
While we need to put our shoulders back and rest in the confidence that we are valuable we need to be also be aware that others are as valuable as well.
If the Devil cannot convince us that we are worthless he will try to do the very opposite. He will try to convince us that we are more valuable than other human beings. He will try to convince us that we should be able to push others around because well - we are better than they are or that we are worth more. They may be special but we are even more special. We deserve more. We should have more. We should be #1 over anyone else.
In the Old Testament we have the story of a Syrian Army Commander by the name of Naaman. You can read his story in 2 Kings chapter five. Naaman began to believe that he was worth more than other soldiers. He began to believe too much in his own power and position.
However, Namaan had a problem. He was a leper and at the time there was no cure for leprosy. His king (his boss) heard that there was a cure for leprosy in the land of Israel so he sent Namaan off to be healed. He also gave him an offering worth around $ 425,000 dollars to use to pay for the healing.
Now, if your boss is ready to pay $ 425,000 to help you find a healing then he must consider you worth something. This only added to Namaan's arrogance and self-conceit. When Naaman found the Prophet Elisha he just knew that Elisha would be impressed by his presence, his title as commander of an army and the big offering he was ready to give Elisha.
Instead, Elisha refused to come out of his house. He refused to take the money. Namaan's position, his power nor his money meant anything to Elisha. He merely told the man that if he wanted to be healed all he had to do was to go and wash seven times in the Jordan River.
At first Namaan was upset. His home country of Syria had much better streams and rivers. Why should he humiliate himself and wash in the dirty water of the Jordan River?
And who was this Prophet Elisha in the first place? How dare him dismiss Namaan so easily. Was he not aware of Namaan's power and position? Was he not aware that at his command he could take Elisha's head right off his shoulders?
At first Namaan refused. He wasn't going to humiliate himself. He wasn't going to wash his body in the dirty waters of the Jordan River. But as he looked down he saw his leprosy. His servant persuaded him to give it a try. After all, what did he have to lose?
The Bible says that Namaan got into that water and dipped seven times. To do that Namaan had to:
- First, remove his soldier's uniform. He had to put aside the symbols of his power and position. He had to look like any other human being on planet Earth.
- Secondly, he had to humble himself and obey. He had to surrender his will to the will of another. He had to believe in the words of the Prophet and in the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
-Third, he had to go under the waters of the Jordan River seven times.
The Bible tells us as Namaan did this the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY healed him. He came out of the waters a new man. His skin was pure and whole. He also came out of the Jordan River a man that no longer saw himself as someone important in man's eyes but a man worthy in God's eyes.
His pride, his over inflated view of himself had almost cost him his healing. But when he saw himself in God's eyes - not as a soldier, not as a man who had power and position, not even as a man who could easily give away almost a half a million dollars he found healing and wholeness.
We see a similar narrative in the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. When we first meet Joseph he knows that he is valuable and that is a good thing. But he begins to value himself above others. He begins to tell his brothers and those over him that he is more valuable than they are - that one day he will have ultimate power over them. He tells them that one day they will have to bow down to him. They will have to serve him. He will be in charge.
And while that became true the fact is the Bible tells us that the LORD had to discipline Joseph and teach him some valuable lessons. Joseph was valuable but so too were his brothers, his fathers and others. The Lord used a time of being a slave and being a prisoner to teach Joseph some very important lessons concerning the value of people. Joseph began to see everyone has value - even those condemned to a life of slavery and those waiting on death's role. The LORD took Joseph to the bottom of humanity so that Joseph could understand that everyone everywhere is valuable.
Joseph became great because he began to understand not just his worth but the worth of other human beings as well.
We see Jesus teaching this same truth in our Gospel passage.
Now, if there was ever a human being worth something it was Jesus Christ. I mean how many human beings have been able to say that they were 100% divine and 100% human? How many human beings have been able to say that they were there at the time of creation ( Colossians 1:15-18)? How many human beings could say that they are the LORD of LORDS and the King of Kings?
Jesus knew his worth. He knew that He was the Second Adam and the Son of God. He knew He was the Messiah. He knew He was God in Flesh. And yet, in our passage what to we see Jesus doing?
III. Jesus teaches, preaches and by His actions shows the worth of all those around Him
Because Jesus understood His worth He was able to pour Himself our into others.
Now, Jesus had to face the same things about self-worth. The Bible tells us that there were times that even his own family doubted his worth. Members of His own family thought He was crazy. The Bible tells us that the Pharisees and the scribes did their best to discount Jesus and make him doubt his own self-worth. The Devil did his best in the Wilderness and in other places to get Jesus to feel inferior or to think that he needed the approval of others.
Jesus faced all those things and came out on top. He understood that in His Father's Eyes He was valuable. He didn't need other people's approval. He had His Heavenly Father's Approval. He had the inner witness of His Holy Spirit. It was nice when Peter understood He was the Messiah. It was nice when others proclaimed Him as Savior and LORD.
But Jesus knew in His heart He was God in Flesh. He knew the love that He shared with His Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. And even though Jesus had taken on the form of a servant it was a servant who knew His worth - and because of that knowledge Jesus was able to set about lifting up others who were suffering from doubt, from feeling inferior, from feeling insecure and worthless.
Read again those words in verses 17 - 23
Read again how Jesus reaches out to those suffering from diseases, those who are being tormented by unclean spirits. Read again the wonderful words Jesus shares with those who are poor, who hunger and who weep and are hated. Read again and you will see where Jesus pours Himself out to those who were suffering greatly from being seen as worthless, as being insignificant and as being a loser in this life.
Jesus reached out to those no one else wanted to be around and those that people looked down up. Jesus reached out to those who were hurting and suffering emotionally, socially, financially and spiritually. Jesus reached out to those who were being marginalized and those who were being shoved to the side. Jesus was reaching out to those who many thought would be better off hidden away or dead.
Jesus was reaching out and saying to them - Your Heavenly Father believes that you are priceless. Your Heavenly Father believes in You. Your Heavenly Father has a gift for you. Your Heavenly Father wants to take away your pain. Your Heavenly Father wants to rescue you, redeem you and live inside your heart and life. Your Heavenly Father loves you so much that He wants to join His Spirit with your spirit.
It is amazing what Luke shares following this sermon of Jesus'. Jesus goes on to touch the life of a servant, He raises a widow's son and He uplifts a woman that the religious people of that day called a sinner; a person unworthy to be in the presence of a holy person. Jesus pour out His life upon a servant, a poor widow's son and a sinner.
Jesus does not look at any of them and say - You are worthless. You are not worth my time. You are insignificant. You are just a poor widow, a sick and dying servant or a woman who has a questionable reputation.
Instead, Jesus reaches out and says - You are worthy of my time, my attention and my healing. You are worthy of the Good God of Creation taking the time to meet your need, to grant you your son back, your health back and to declare that you are not a sinner but one of the people that loves me and has shown the world that she loves me.
The more we understand our worth - how precious and priceless we are to Our Heavenly Father the more we understand how to then look at others as precious and priceless.
I recently read a story about a homeless man. Many of the people living around him thought he was worthless. They thought he must either be mentally ill or an addict. They thought he must be a failure. Some looked at him like he was a piece of trash. Others treated him like trash.
However, others thought he had value. So they reached out and helped him. They helped him find food, clothing and shelter. In turn he decided that he would do what he could to help others. He began to recycle and reuse what other people were throwing away.
One night when the temperature was well below the freezing mark, he noticed a young woman huddled in the snow next to a transformer trying to get warm. She had been kicked out of her home with no shoes or a coat. He rode by her on his bike and started up a conversation. He took the time to listen to her story. Then he told her to stay right there and he would be back in a few minutes.
Using his street smarts the man quickly biked to three dumpsters he frequented used and came back with a coat, a pair of shoes and a pair of socks. He couldn't get her out of the cold but he helped her survive. He did what other people either couldn't do or wouldn't do.1
Other people may have thought this homeless man was insignificant; worthless, but, I bet if you ask the young woman that was thrown out of her house that snowy night she would have said that he was priceless. So too would the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. The LORD would say that both individuals were priceless.
At times we may feel average, ordinary, middling run of the mill people. We may feel that we no longer have anything to give. We are no longer of any use. We may even wonder why we are still around. We may at times wonder why God just doesn't go ahead and take us home.
- Well, we are still around because we are valuable to our families, to our friends and to our world.
-We are still around because the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY needs us in His world.
- We are still around because the LORD considers us priceless to His mission of rescuing and redeeming His world.
-We are still around because the LORD enjoys our company.
- We are still around because the Lord thinks we are amazing.
Life will do its best to cast us down and cause us to doubt ourselves. Life will try to convince us that we are for the most part worthless and insignificant. The truth is, we all have to deal with disappointments, setbacks, bad breaks and other hardships in this life. But that doesn't mean that the LORD has given up on us or that we are of little to no value. We must open our Bibles, we must go to our LORD and realize that we:
+ Are New Creations in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17)
+Are Adopted children of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY (Ephesians 1:5; 1 John 3:1-2)
+ Are United in spirit with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17)
+ Are Free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)
+Are A chosen people - a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)
+Are able to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5)
+We can continually experience a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7)
+ Are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us (Romans 8:37)
+Are the Salt and the Light of the World (Matthew 5:13-14)
This morning - while we don't want to fall into the trap of self-conceit we also do not want to devalue ourselves or others. That is the temptation of Satan. He wants to stop us from believing in our LORD, in ourselves and in others.
Let us come today to share the Table of Our LORD understanding our worth. Let us come today to be blessed by the LORD. Let us come today to receive strength and encouragement so that we can share the Good News to all those in the world who need to hear that God loves them, God values them and so do we as well.
Sharing of the LORD Supper/Prayer/Benediction
1http://anawimcc.org/are-homeless-people-worthless/
