Inherently
By Lillian Howard
What gives an object its value? Why is gold more precious than iron, and ruby more precious than stone? Why were elephants slaughtered for their ivory? There are many potential answers to this question. An item can be considered valuable because it is rare, because it is sentimental, because it is pretty, or because it is useful. Essentially, the answer is, because people said so. But what about humans? What makes us valuable?
People are not like objects. Unfortunately, we often apply these same principals when judging the value of people as we do in valuing jewelry. But your worth is not tied up in your usefulness, or your beauty, or how many people love you. Your worth is inherent. And I’m about to show you why.
1. Our inherent value is seen in our original creation.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27
You know this verse. We all know this verse. But think about it with me for a minute. God is a Spirit (John 4:24). He is not a man (Numbers 23:19). Therefore, our likeness to him cannot be physical. It must be spiritual. From the very beginning, God made us like him in a way no other being is. All of creation was good, except for us: humanity was pronounced “very good.” (Genesis 1:31)
2. Our inherent value is seen in our individual creation.
“The rich and the poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.” (Proverbs 22:2)
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect [or ‘incomplete’]; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
Each person was created by God. Each body was formed, each soul was given, individually. You are not just valuable because you are part of the human race – you are valuable because you are yourself and God made you unique. Look at a few of these words with me: fearfully, wonderfully, marvelous.
One of the definitions of fearfully is, “awe-inspiring”. Wonderfully can mean “distinguished,” or “set apart.” Marvelous can include being “beyond one’s power to understand.” We are, all of us, individually, designed by God in a way that is awe-inspiring, unique from all the rest, and so incredible that it is unfathomable.
These are beautiful words. And each and every one applies to you.
3. Our inherent value is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus.
Did you know that Jesus prayed for you? “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” (John 17:20)
This prayer was spoken on the night of His betrayal. It was prayed at the beginning of His torture. It was prayed in the same breath as, “Let this cup pass from me….” Which makes sense. Because we are the reason that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could not, would not, let that cup pass.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
God loves us that much. He considers our value that great. We all know we can’t earn salvation, but we don’t have to earn his love either. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)
Many of us have the idea in our heads that we must be perfect in order to be good enough. But there was only ever one sinless man, and that was Christ. We are imperfect. God has never expected of us more than we can give. Our best? Is good enough. Our mistakes? Are forgivable. Our triumphs? Are celebrated.
1 John 1:7 reads, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
We are imperfect, but we are trying, and so God makes up the difference. We are only human but we are, and always have been, and always will be, precious.