What is the most valuable thing we can possess?
Matthew 13:44-46
1. The most valuable thing we can possess is our citizenship in God's kingdom.
The kingdom of heaven is more valuable than anything else we
can have, and a person must be willing to give up everything to
obtain it. The man who discovered the treasure in the field
stumbled upon it by accident but knew its value when he found
it. The merchant was earnestly searching for the pearl of great
value and when he found it, he sold everything he had to purchase
it.
2. In our society what shows others your value and your worth?
What you own Who I know How I look
What you drive Who my friends are The job I have
What you wear Who my family is The school I attend
What you do Where I live The team I am on
My value and worth are not found in these.
If #1 is true, how does God help us with our self esteem?
A. Our self-esteem needs to be grounded in the value God places on our life.
Psalm 8:1-9 Key vs. 3-8
When we look at the vast expanse of creation, we wonder how God could
be concerned for people who constantly disappoint Him. Yet God created
us only a little lower than Himself or the angels! The next time you
question your worth as a person; remember that God considers you highly
valuable. (See Genesis 1:26-28 for the worth God puts on you.)
B. We are valuable to God.
Luke 12:4-12
Our value is God's estimate of our worth, not our peers: other people
evaluate and categorize us according to how we perform, what we achieve,
and how we look. But God cares for us, as He cares for all of His
creation, because we belong to Him.
C. Our self-esteem is affected by how closely we identify with Christ.
Romans 12:1-8 Key vs. 3
Healthy self-esteem is important because some of us think too little of
ourselves; on the other hand some of us over estimate ourselves. The key
to an honest and accurate evaluation is knowing the basis of our self-worth.
Our identity in Christ. Romans 12:5-8
Apart from Him, we aren't capable of very much by eternal standards:
in Him, we are valuable and capable of worthy service. Evaluating yourself
by the worldly standard of success and achievement can cause you to think
too much about your worth in the eyes of others and thus miss your true
value in God's eyes. Romans 12:9-21
God values us, God values us based on His own character, not ours, and
God places a high value on His human creations.
That means you are important to God!
