It can be extremely easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to the world’s standards. People will tell you that you should strive to make a certain amount of money every year to fall within a certain tax bracket. They may tell you to strive for popularity and power at all costs.
Even when you achieve these worldly standards of success, it becomes even harder to de-center the world’s opinions from your life because worldly praise can become addicting and lead you down a covetous or even dangerous path.
What the Bible Says About Self Worth
Based on Ecclesiastes 1:14, none of our accomplishments on earth matter anyways because earth will not exist forever: “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” This is why we need to constantly remind ourselves that our self-worth is not defined by physical success.
According to God, our self-worth is innate; we were worthy before we were even born. According to Psalm 139:13-14, 16, before we were even conceived, God knew that we would one day exist and He planned a wonderful life uniquely made just for us: “For You formed my inward parts;You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”
This shows that our worth was determined by God before we ever appeared on earth which shows that our value has no correlation with how much we do or do not achieve while living.
God Knows Your Worth
Luke 12:6-7 also shows that God values all human beings: “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” This verse does not mention money, fame, or social status which shows that even without these things that the world says we need, we are still valuable to God.
It is such a blessing that our worth lies within God and not man because God will not judge us based on worldly qualities such as yearly income, body shape/size, political influence, etc. We are priceless to God out of no good deed of our own; we are His children so He loves and cares for us.
According to John 3:16, God loved us (and still does) so much that He sent His only Son to die an agonizing death on the cross so that all of mankind could have a chance at eternal life: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
We did nothing to earn this sacrificial love. We did nothing to deserve God’s love. All humans are worthy and have value in the eyes of God and He has shown us through the Bible how His grace towards us continues, even today.
God Will Judge Our Worth
At times, it can be difficult to appreciate God’s love especially when the world does not love you. The good news is that however other people perceive you or whatever they think about you does not matter because we will not be judged by man on judgment day; we will be judged by God according to the standards He has set for us.
When we get to heaven, none of the scales people use to judge our worthiness will matter. In heaven, there will be no socio-economic or racial divides because the standards of worthiness implemented on earth mean nothing to God. We serve a God who understands that worth and our value is measured by how God defines success, not man.
