A verse about worth:
“Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!” Zechariah 11:17
I’ll admit, Zechariah is probably not a book that I’m most familiar with. That being said, today’s verse spoke to me in a sort of antithesis meaning.
What I mean is, even though it serves as sort of a harsh warning towards those who fail their duty, I think of the opposite circumstances.
Blessed are those who uphold their purpose and perform their duties.
Life has its ups and downs, there’s no doubt about that. How we respond to difficult circumstances is a direct correlation to how we view ourselves.
Our self-worth directly affects how resilient we can be. When I’m depressed, it’s so much easier for me to succumb to minor setbacks.
But when my self-esteem is where it should be, I find that I’m much more resilient. I don’t think that’s too difficult of a concept to grasp.
Understanding the Verse About Worth in a Biblical Context
It’s vital to remember that we are God’s creation. We are made in His image. No matter what we look like or how we feel about ourselves, God made us.
And, He made us perfectly. So, to a certain extent, it’s insulting for us to diminish His creation by devaluing ourselves.
We are valuable to God in His eyes. So it’s time to remind ourselves of that.
Now, there’s a very fine line between valuing ourselves and becoming conceited.
God enjoys humility. We must remember our place in connection to our Creator.
Not only will having an appropriate level of self-esteem increase our resilience, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it will lead to an overall better quality of life.
Even if you’re suffering from guilt, depression, loneliness, or despair, YOU are valuable.
How do we increase our own perceived value? A good start would be to study the Bible and understand how valuable we actually are.
Now that I’m a father, the concept of God sacrificing His only Son for all of us carries more weight. I cannot fathom how difficult that would be, and it breaks my heart to even consider it.
Once we understand how valuable we are in His eyes, then it’s time to work on strengthening our own self-worth.
Unveiling a Most Inspiring Bible Verse About Worth
"Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!" Zechariah 11:17
Change the first sentence, and it delivers an entirely new meaning.
“Blessed be the worthy sheperd, who protects the flock!”
You see when we do what we are called to do, then we are fulfilling our purpose; that increases our value.
Or, as Colossians 3:23-24 says,
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."
It doesn’t matter if you’re a parking lot attendant, a teacher, a Senator, or an artist. Pursue your occupation (and even your hobbies) for the glory of God.
Even if you don’t currently enjoy your profession, just know that God put you in that position. It might be temporary, or it could be your career occupation. We don’t know His plans for us.
The point is, by changing our attitude from resentment to gratefulness, we can strive towards providing His glory.
This simple change in attitude can present untold opportunities for us to increase our value, dramatically increase our joy, fulfill our current purpose, and alter our entire outlook on life.
Applying the Verse About Worth to Personal Life
For the sake of adding context to this concept, I’ll get a little personal here.
I am a full-time, career firefighter. That’s my profession. I’ve been doing this for 16 years now.
My career goal was to work for 32 years so I could retire when I am 55. So, I have just passed the halfway point in my career.
Over the past few years, I’ve really struggled with the idea of investing an additional 16 years in this career.
I’ve struggled with physical ailments from the toil the job puts on my body. I have suffered numerous injuries, most of them minor, but they all add up.
However, that pales in comparison to the mental and emotional toil that I’ve faced.
Sleep deprivation, increased workload, contract negotiations, and undervalued pay levels have led to diminished self-esteem.
I’m gone from my family for 1/3 of the year. I work 56 hours a week normally, but because we aren’t paid a fair wage, I end up having to work overtime to make ends meet.
This struggle is compounded because I finally know what I WANT to do.
I want to have a career repairing small engines and restoring old machinery. That’s what gives me joy.
I want to eventually restore heavy equipment and possibly even vehicles.
I want to make videos and be part of a community of creators. That is my dream, so every day that I have to go to work I get a little bit more depressed that it’s another day away from my ideal life.
That being said, God put me here for a reason. I’d like to think that I’m an above-average Captain. I wish to believe that my crew, the Department, and our community are better served because I am here.
That’s probably not the case; I know the Department will continue when I’m gone. I understand that I’m replaceable. But God put me here for a reason.
It might be because I am the best person for this position at this time. More likely, it’s because I need to be here, and He knows it. It’s likely that I’m not ready to appreciate and fulfill my purpose in doing my dream job.
Until that time comes, it won’t happen. Rather than despairing over this fact, I can alter my perception to utilize it.
I can make the most of my time doing this profession until God puts me in a different situation. I can serve my community with compassion. Furthermore, I can love my coworkers and build them into future leaders. And, even though it’s difficult sometimes, I can serve my leaders with humility and respect.
Encouragement for Readers
It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again. It’s so simple, but it’s also profound.
God loves you as you are.
That doesn’t mean that He doesn’t want you to grow. It certainly doesn’t mean that you’re perfect. It just means that He loves you in your imperfectness.
If you think you’re ugly, God sees your beauty. If you think you’re unworthy, God sees your worth. He created you; He knows.
It’s time to honor Him by honoring yourself. Treat His creation (you) with the respect that it is deserving of.
Recap
God doesn’t make mistakes. He is incapable of them.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
It doesn’t matter what you look like. Or, it doesn’t matter what circumstances you’re currently in. God is doing whatever He’s doing in your life for your own good.
That’s hard to grasp, and it’s even more difficult to understand. That doesn’t make it any less true.
Study the Bible and you’ll come to realize how truly valuable you are. Then, work on perfecting your value by doing all things for the glory of God.
You don’t have to be a “Bible thumper” to accomplish this. You don’t need to push your values and opinions on others; in fact, that typically has the opposite effect.
Rather, in everything you do, do it in a way that others can see that God is in your life.
Live with love and humility. Fulfill your current purpose, and you will gain life’s blessings. It will change your life.
That’s my two cents; I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Let me know in the comments below!
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