Worth Less or Worthless?

USA Today’s headline: “Families’ wealth dives 39% in 3 years.” Unfortunately, this message, “you are worth less,” will be interpreted by many as, “you are worthless.” Think about the unemployed fathers whose worth is tied to their ability to provide for their families. A few months ago a 36-year-old father killed his children and committed suicide because he was out of work and didn’t want to burden his wife. A few years ago in L.A. a man shot his wife, 5 children and himself, leaving a note that he and his wife had been fired from their jobs.

Now I do know these are extreme cases. But the fact remains. For people who define their ‘worth’ by worldly standards, ‘worth less’ equals ‘worthless.’ Perhaps it is a good time to reevaluate how we are defining worth.

In his book, “The Life of God in the Soul of Man,” 1677, Henry Scougal wrote: “The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love.” It’s true now as it was then: the price paid for an object establishes its value. You and I were worth the life of God’s Son. Now we are exhorted to “walk worthy” of this great love. People invested in this world are sure to have ‘buyers’ remorse.’ But that will never happen to us if we are investing ourselves in God’s eternal kingdom.