By Carole Willette – Bangor, Maine
VALUE: To estimate the worth of; to rate at a certain price; to appraise; to esteem; to hold in respect and estimation; to consider to be of importance; to be of worth.
I work at J.C. Penney’s in the jewelry department. I have been there for almost two years, and I have learned a lot, mostly about the value of gems and diamonds.
What makes them so costly? How is the price determined? The size, the color, the clarity, and the cut. These properties are all factored in the value; then the customer decides whether it’s worth the price.
Photo by Mark Johnson of Flickr
How does a person determine the value of someone else? What is a man’s life worth? Who decides the worth of another person?
The Forgiving Father
I love the parable of the Forgiving Father in Luke 15, and the value this father places on his sons. The younger son receives the good portion from his father, yet wastes it, and comes to the opinion that his life is no longer of worth.
But, he gets up and goes to his father who sees his son and has compassion on him, runs to him, embraces, and kisses him. The son voices his opinion of unworthiness, but the father is quick to set him right.
The father tells his servants to bring the best robe, put it on him, and put the family ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. The father calls for a big feast with a fatted calf and music and dancing.
The father is merry. He wants to celebrate. The father places great value on his son. He is so glad to have him home!
The older son has his own opinion of his younger brother. Even though his opinion doesn’t line up with his father’s, his loving father reminds him of the great value of each son to the family.
How thankful I am to have such a loving Heavenly Father who loves me, values me, cares for me, and has set me in his family.
What opinion do you have of yourself? Does your thinking line up with what the Father says about you? Do you consider how valuable you are to him and to his family?
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [his family]? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?
Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [“…no one, no one, no one!”]” Romans 8:31-35a ESV
One of my favorite parts of my job is putting the jewelry on display, setting the pieces where they can shine, and their qualities can be appreciated.
Sometimes, there is a single ring highlighted, and in other places many items are grouped together. But every individual piece has a place, a value, a worth to be considered, appreciated, and cared for.
The Father has chosen you and set you at His own right hand in Christ Jesus. He has set you where it pleases Him. You have His loving qualities in you, and He cares for you.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV)
God loves you. He set you at his right hand in Christ Jesus and you are worth it! You are so valuable to God!
Carole loves family. She comes from a large family and is the oldest of eight children. Her parents have been married for 69 years.
Carole and her husband Jim have been married for 47 years. They have three grown, married children and seven grandchildren. They are so thankful for our heavenly Father, Christ Jesus our lord, and our eternal family!