Self-worth: How much $$ is yourself worth?

Self-worth: How much $$ is yourself worth?

Self-worth is a combination of the value you place on your life, image, and importance to the people around you. We all have a measure of our own significance, whether we intentionally think about it or not. The most accurate indicator of a person’s level of self-worth is when they open their mouth to speak. Our measurements for self-worth come mainly from our childhood and what’s taught through society. Below I’ve mentioned some key concepts of an incorrect view of self and redefined what I believe self-worth should look like.

What you hear out in the world:

• “The sayings”: All around us voices shout that we should put ourselves first. This is taught to us through songs, quotes, and, of course, all types of media. I even saw a slogan on a commercial where at the end it says “Worship yourself.” Allow me to tell you: that is not good advice!
•  The basic idea behind what society says is idolatry. It is simply idolizing your wants and living only for you.
•  Idolatry can be subtle and has several forms to disguise itself in. Love is the biggest and most abused form of idolatry. The so-called love I see in films, stories, and among the people I know is based on how much will someone cater to you. It is never unconditional like God’s love for us —and He is the true definition of love.

                                                                               “… for God is love.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1 John 4:8b NLT

What you heard growing up:

• Parents, school friends, family, and all of the other people it took to raise you have the very first opportunity to define your self-worth.
• My grandad once said to me at the table, “If I told you a gnat can pull a train, hitch him up!” (I thought that was the funniest thing)
•  All that means is what I was told by people who care for me, I pretty much believed.
• For many of us, the things said about us over and over again as a kid, we repeated over and over again to others as an adult.
• Sometimes this is a good thing —if you were raised in a nurturing home, but sadly that’s not the case for all.

Re-defining Self-worth:

• Merriam-Webster defines self-worth as having a sense of one’s own value as a human being. `add citation`
•  This simply means having an understanding of certain rights that belong to every person.
• When I began to understand self-worth I stopped allowing others who seemed to have more than me or who lived above me to intimidate me. I saw that we are all just people: big, small, rich, poor, pretty or not. Everyone has the same beginning and ending, we have the same basic needs, and life happens to all of us no matter who we believe we are.

How Self-worth works for the Christian:

•  We must understand the difference between us as the people of God and our flesh: our original sinful nature that comes from Adam.
• The Bible informs us that nothing good comes from the old nature [flesh]. Also, anyone who lives from their sinful nature is not pleasing to God.
•  So, where does our worth lie? How is it calculated in the kingdom of God?
• Our new identity after being saved is our connection to Christ. Because of Him, we now can identify as the children of God.

                                                    “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
                                                                                    Galatians 3:26 NLT

• “We are what we are by the grace of God. (1 Cor. 15:10)”
• All of God’s plans for you, blessings, and promises are wrapped up in Jesus Christ. The good news is we are in Jesus Christ. We are one with Christ and He has shared His inheritance as the Son of God with us!
• We are sons and daughters too and are now worth so much more in God’s eyes. God loves the whole world, but it is His children that He cherishes.

                                 “… Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.”                                                                                                                                                               Deuteronomy 7:6 NLT

Throughout the Bible, I can read of God’s goodness and love and mercy and kindness and the list goes on. As you read, take note of who the Bible is addressing. Nine times out of ten, God will be speaking to His children about their value in Him. God’s esteem for you and me is a treasure that no one could ever touch. All I have left to say is always believe what God has to say about you over any other voice in this world.