Learning My Value and Place

In review of 1 Corinthians 7:23 it says, “You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him — be free now from all these earthly prides and fears” (TLB).

Bottom Line:

You belong to Christ, bought and paid for. You are not free from all earthly pride and fears.

What this means to me:

I have been bought and paid for by Christ at a high price, and as such I belong to him, therefore I can be free now from all earthly prides and fears.

In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul explains that whatever my status is in life (rich, poor, free or not free), the important thing is to keep God's commandments. I should remain as when God called me. God paid a high price for me, so don't be enslaved by the world.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying that people (including me) should be Christians where they are. I can do God's work and demonstrate my faith anywhere. I should never assume I’m in the wrong place. Where I am is where God want me to be.

I shouldn’t become so concerned about what I could be doing for God somewhere else, that I would miss great opportunities right where I am. Paul says that I should continue with the work I have previously been doing for every job can become Christian work when I realize that it can be an opportunity to honor, serve, and speak out for Christ. Because God has placed me where I am, I need to take every opportunity to serve him there.

Also, God says that I’m not only accepted, but also valuable. My value is much more than my net worth. I shouldn’t confuse my valuables with my value as a person. I can be rich or poor, but it has nothing to do with my value as a person.

What I’m learning is that there are two main things that determine something's value:

1. It depends on what someone is willing to pay for it. For example, how much is your house worth? Probably not as much as I’d like it to be worth, and maybe not as much as it was a year ago. My house is worth what somebody is willing to pay for it — no more.

2. It depends on who owned it in the past. Sometimes something is valuable because of who used to own it. For example, a car owned by Elvis Presley be more valuable than a car owned by me.

Based on these two factors, what’s my value? I can consider, “Who owns me?” and “What was paid for me?” The Bible says, “You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him — be free now from all these earthly prides and fears” (1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB). I have been bought and paid for by Christ. I belong to him. How much does that make you worth?

Next consider, “To whom do I belong?” The Bible says I belong to God. God exchanged his own Son for me. The cross proves my value. Jesus didn’t die for junk. I am incredibly valuable. Nobody has ever paid a greater price than God paid for me. I’m accepted, and I’m valuable!