It is not until something breaks down that we fully recognize its worth. And perhaps it is not until we break down that we see the need to understand and know our worth.
Our faithful 2007 Honda Pilot finally decided it needed a little attention—a lot of attention. It needed a window regulator, power steering pump, alternator, transmission, radiator, condenser, and compressor all at once.
Being without our main car has made us appreciate its worth even more.
Restoring the worth of said vehicle has been a journey of sorts, about a month long. My husband fixed everything except the transmission and radiator, but his first attempt at fixing the compressor was a flop due to a flawed part.
Whoever inspected that part did not rightly determine its functionality. It had bad bearings that could not bear the burden of the compressor. So, my husband had to return the part and order a new one, hoping that the next one would be worth the price.
In all transparency, I don’t have the patience my husband does with fixing cars. While I would rather be grateful for the years our previous vehicle has offered us service and move on to the next, my husband laments over the thought of giving up on this vehicle.
As much as I might not want to admit it, he helped me gain a new perspective on our worth through an old car.
Worth is not determined by monetary value.
Sure, some cars cost more, as determined by the world’s evaluation, but there is no cost anyone could pay that would be enough for a human soul. One person is not worth more than another. All are made in the image of God. Only Christ’s blood could pay for all the souls of this world.
Worth does not fade with age.
To my hubby, any car will do as long as it will get him from point A to B. Sometimes, an older car is more treasured in his eyes. In our culture, the worth of people often diminishes with age, preferring youth to wisdom. But the Bible says that wisdom is with the aged (Job 12:12).
Worth is not lessened because of effort.
It has been a lot of effort trying to get our car working again, and it has cost a lot. The effort is not wasted, though. Soon (hopefully) we will be able to drive our beloved car again. But the amazing thing about our worth is that our effort does not determine it. Jesus is the only One qualified to determine and give worth to His people. He gives His perfect righteousness to those who are willing to admit their need of His forgiveness and salvation.
Can We Lose Our Worth?
According to the economic system, a car loses its worth based on functionality, appearance, and age. In the world, people pursue an elusive worth that fades. Those who are in Christ have a worth they did not earn but can become worthless when they pursue worthless idols (2 Kings 17:15; Jeremiah 2:5, Romans 3:12). Worshiping Christ rather than idols restores our worth.
Our Worth is Eternal.
No measurement of this world could ever determine our worth. If we could stop using the world’s metrics, we would recognize that our intrinsic worth is eternal in Christ.
The struggle for worth reveals that we don’t understand the worth we already have. The matter is settled: our worth is in Christ alone.
Things of this world wear out and lose their worth in man’s eyes, but those who abide in Christ are renewed daily (2 Corinthians 4:16). Our worth is more than skin deep.
P.S.: Below is this week’s mindset hack to remind you where your worth comes from.
All for Jesus,
Denise