When a man hears this question, “What are you worth?”, his mind often goes to his financial portfolio. He adds up his investments, real estate values, and other assets to get a total. For some, this is a source of security, to know you have enough resource to care for your family and be comfortable in retirement. For others, it could be a source of pride. Still others may look at this number in despair because it doesn’t add up to what they hoped for at this point in their life.
Whatever you discover this number to be, there is a startling truth concerning the net worth of every human being. At the moment of your death, if your body could be divided into all of its chemical components, you would be worth about $160. At death, every person will be equal in financial worth. All the resources you have worked to attain in this life will pass to the possession of someone else. Your real estate and other assets will be in the hands those to whom they are bequeathed. Your net value will be a mere $160.
This stark truth is not intended to cause us to throw up our hands in despair. It is a noble task to provide for our family and there is good wisdom in preparing for the future. However, these accomplishments are not what determines our worth. Although when we die, our earthly value drops significantly, it is then that we can experience the rewards of our value to God. When our bodies die, our spirits live on forever. The point is this. If one aspect of my life (my physical existence) loses value and the other (my spiritual existence) greatly increases in value, in which should I be investing most of my energies?
When considering our worth, we need to recognize our value before God. God sees us as valuable because we are made in his image. Genesis 1:26 reveals that humans alone has this honor. We are the only created being with the ability to interact with God on a spiritual level. We can think and choose. We were a part of God’s eternal plan before the first atom of this world came in to being. Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”
We also have great worth to God because of what we cost. Our rebellion caused a chasm to form between our sinful existence and a holy God. This could not be crossed by anything we did. Therefore, God took the initiative to restore our relationship with him by allowing his sinless son to be sacrificed on our behalf. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7
We are valuable to God because of what we can accomplish for his Kingdom. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We are invited to work beside the Spirit of God in this world to make a difference in the lives and eternities of others. God invites us to be a part of his amazing plan of redemption.
Next time you are asked the question, “What are you worth?”, think about how God would answer for you. And as you determine how to manage your value during this life, remember what will simply be passed on to others compared to what you can enjoy for all eternity.