Originally published Sunday, 21 October 2012.
Welcome to Day 7 of Stress Points to Life Points!
Day 7 Stress Point Money: Money ≠ Value
Raise your hand if you are or have ever been flat B.R.O.K.E? If you raised your hands (c’mon, don’t be shy!) how did it feel to look at your bank statement or empty wallet? Can we say pit in stomach? I wonder if you were tempted to let that empty wallet nurture an empty feeling in your heart that effected the way you view your personal value?
On the flip side, when our bank accounts overflow with cash we must remember that in God’s economy, having tons of money DOES NOT EQUAL value. I don’t know about you but when the cash is flowing I’m all too susceptible just doing my own thing aside from Jesus. That fragile security blanket of having money and feeling comfortable pulls me away from full dependence on my King. Are we also too susceptible to placing a dollar figure on our personal value –– how others value us and how God values us –– based on how much money we do or do not have?
Truth Point: God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him. He destined us to be adopted as His children through the covenant Jesus the Anointed inaugurated in His sacrificial life. This was His pleasure and His will for us. (Ephesians 1:4-5)
Let us redefine personal value and success...
The very Creator of the universe chose YOU, my friend, to be His daughter. He chose YOU and welcomes YOU to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). He is the only ONE who assigns true value and purpose. That means God is the ONE who determines what you are worth. And do you want to know what? He already determined that you are INVALUABLE.
God demonstrated that when He sacrificed His only son, Jesus, on the cross so that you and I will have forgiveness from sin and a true relationship with the Creator. Heck yeah! That rocks!
From My Book Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties In A Decade Of Drama
Oftentimes we want others to recognize our personal value or the value of our contributions, forgetting that we’re already of infinite worth to God—the only One who really counts. That’s right: You are of great importance to God, no matter what you buy, where you work, or where you vacation. That’s all that matters. End of story. I would hate to find myself in heaven one day, hearing Jesus say to me, “You did an alright job with the time I gave you in life. But why did you put so much effort into what others thought of you? Didn’t you know that you’re the apple of My eye and that this is all that matters?”
Godly success starts with knowing His Word and letting it speak to your heart. When you’re tempted to show off your latest high-ticket fashion item to prove your worth to your girlfriends, rest and wait. Remain secure in the knowledge that no shopping spree can ever boost your value to match your worth to Jesus. {From Stress Point page 157}
Life Point: Take out your journal (or even just a pen and paper). Write out your definition of value and worth. How have you seen that play out with your money?
Now, write out this prayer and fill in the rest of it with your own words as a prayer to your King who loves and adores YOU no matter how much money you have.
Lord, the world tells me that the number in my bank account reflects my personal worth. Show me, Lord, how You see me. Help me to know with out a doubt that You find me valuable...
I feel these things about my worth...
Spend some time in the Bible with the following Bible verses. Let His word pour into your heart. Soak in the TRUTH that God loves you with an infinite love and finds you INVALUABLE.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Colossians 1: 13-14
Philippians 1:6
Ephesians 2:10
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Declaration: Our bank account doesn’t define our worth. #stresspointslifepoints www.liveitoutblog.com
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