Marjorie grew up with a sense of worthlessness. Again and again, her father said she would never accomplish anything in life. He told her she was a loser and that anything she did try was sure to end in failure. With these words ringing in her ears she grew up looking for someone who would love her and see her as a person of worth. This led her into relationships that were disappointing to her, ending in pain and devastation with yet another proof that she was worthless and unlovable. Maybe you can identify with Marjorie and your story is much like hers. Where does our sense of self-worth come from?
It is true that the foundation for a person’s self-worth is laid in the home. Words that we hear in our home can build or tear down our worth as a person. The Bible speaks of words of life and death in Prov.18:21 where it says,” Death and life are in the power of the tongue,…” As we hear words of affirmation and encouragement they are words of life to us while words of criticism and belittling are words of death. Other people like teachers, friends, employers, and spouses add to the collection of life-giving or death words in a person’s heart. Over time a person begins to see themselves in the light of these words. Is this the final word or is there hope that one can develop a sense of worth as a person?
If we look in the Scriptures we see that God never meant it to be this way. He speaks words of life into the heart of every person. We read in Genesis that when God completed the creation of the world he made man in His likeness or image. This likeness gave man and later also the woman he made the capacity to think, to make decisions, to know right from wrong, to be creative and to have the ability to communicate and have a personal relationship. Not only did God put this potential in the heart of man and woman he also gave them the assignment to use these abilities. They were told to rule over the things he had created and given to each a name. Herein lies the potential to organize, care, and to be in charge.
Although the assignment to be fruitful is linked to increasing in number it could also indicate creativity in other areas. Fruitfulness can also speak of the outcome of our labor, of putting our God-given creativity to work in a job, a home-based business, our homes or in areas where God has given us a creative interest which every person possesses who is created in the image of God. Fruit speaks of a beautiful outcome of our labors.
One of the most beautiful aspects of the creation of man is God seeing the need for man to be in a relationship, to have a companion. God places this need and capacity into the heart of each person. Each has the potential to be a friend, a companion, a helper or a person of influence.
This is what God had in mind when he created you. He created you in his image so that you could think, make choices, use your creativity, build relationships, faithfully work at the tasks in your hand and be a person of influence in the lives of others.
But that’s not all. This was only the beginning. In Psalms 139 he says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and describes the creation of each person with words like “knit together” and “woven together” and “ordaining our days” all of which require a plan by a great creator. God had a plan for each of our lives and put together each person with abilities, personality, and potential.
But the greatest evidence of our worth is that he loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us when we were sinners and totally unlovable. We were worth it to him. But there’s more to that as well. When we believe that Jesus died for us and we accept his forgiveness we become his child. A son and daughter of the King of Kings. As we live in that relationship with him we begin to reflect his godly character and we produce the fruit of the Spirit named in Galatians 5:22-23 as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The beauty of this fruit in our lives makes each of us a person of impact and influence.
No matter what “words of death” others have spoken about you God’s view of you rises above those words and he speaks “words of life” into your heart today. He says, “I created you in my image, I gave you abilities to rule, organize, manage your area of life, I gave you a creativity that if followed will bring you joy, I made you be a companion or friend to someone, to be a person of influence, you are precious to me, I loved you so much that I gave my son to die for you and now I want you to be my representative to share this love with others on earth. ”
God made you a person of worth. He decided when he planned your life what abilities he would give to you. We all have varying amounts of ability to organize, lead, create or influence but we have the choice as to what we want to do with that which God has entrusted to us. God also gives us opportunities where we can use these abilities. The fruitfulness depends on how we care for, cultivate and use each of these abilities which in turn results in the fruitfulness of influencing the lives of the people God has placed in our world whether they be children, spouses, employees, friends or neighbors. You are special to God and he wants to use you to speak “words of life” into the lives of those around you.
Have you ever opened up your heart to God and asked Him to enable you to become the person He created you to be? If you would like to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you can say this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make the kind of person You want me to be.
If you prayed today and asked Jesus Christ to come into your life and take control, we would love to hear from you. Drop us a quick line using the form below and if you’re looking for a response, we’ll do that too.
God Bless you.
Did You Know You’re Someone Special? by Elfrieda Nikkel
