Where does your value lie?

Everyone has a desire to feel important and appreciated, no matter who or what the status of the person is. The aim is to live a life that is not predicated so much upon man’s opinions that we feel we’re not important unless people say we are. Having trusted people around us to tell us the Truth, while at the same time encouraging us to walk in our God-given identity, is something to be treasured. Having those who try to control us and make us be what they desire us to be is dangerous. We must be very intentional in distinguishing and discerning the difference.

If you take a look back over the last few years of your life where have you found yourself putting your value in? Has it been in people’s opinions? Has it been in making assumptions about what you think people are saying about you? Has it been in your bank account? Has it been in how many friends you have?

The Good News is that our value is in the blood of Jesus!  God loves us with an everlasting love, one that’s unconditional and eternal. But the point of the matter is that this cannot be just a mere statement in our lives; it must be received as our reality.  If not, we will continue to base our value on what people say rather than who God says we are. 

Countless times have we found ourselves dressing different, talking different and compromising our God I.D. for the sake of being accepted.  I will share with you a thought that changed my life. God told me that the greatest gift I can offer Him is me. And that same concept should apply to everyone else in my life.

If our relationships are event-driven, and if we find ourselves basing our love for one another on gifts rather than cultivating an environment where a person can be who they are truly called to be, it is safe to say that it may not be a true relationship.  If this behavior is in our relationships without true identity being established, we will go broke trying to prove our love for people.

People enter into friendships for many reasons, often times needing someone to fulfill them rather than come to bring something.  Truth be told, many are not yet whole enough to be a safe place for others. A misplaced value in a person causes one-sided relationships.  In other words, we will have a tendency to love a person for what they give to us and totally neglect the amazing qualities of who that person is. For instance, “I love you because you are always there for me when I call,” versus, “I love you because you are a great leader to your family and a very wise person.” Do you hear the difference? The first statement was centered on us; the second statement was centered on them.

We must be very careful how we treat people. Even deeper, we must allow God to fill us with His love so that we do not take advantage of and misuse people. God loves us, and we need to receive His love rather than trying to find it in other sources.  Selah.