For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. [1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NLT)]

These questions were posed in my grandson’s math book: “When is $1,000 too much? When is $1,000 not enough?” That made for an interesting discussion considering we had just seen an article about a gold-infused cupcake in Dubai that sells for over $1,000. While we readily agreed that $1,000 was too much for a cupcake, at least seven others who had already purchased this treat clearly disagreed. It seems that worth, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Some suffer from low self-esteem and think they have little value. Others suffer from misplaced self-esteem and may over-estimate their worth based on such transitory things as looks, wealth, education or position. We’re all valuable, but not for any of those reasons.

We’re valuable not because of who we are, but because of whose we are: God’s. We’re valuable not because of what we know, but because of who we know: Jesus. We’re valuable not because of what we have, but because of what has hold of us: the Holy Spirit. We’re far more valuable than a $1,000 gold-infused cupcake or even a $4.5 million Lamborghini Roadster. Moreover, we were purchased at a far higher price: the sacrifice of God’s only son.

Thank you, Father Almighty, for seeing the value in our lives and purchasing us with your Son’s life. Help us see our worth through your eyes and not the eyes of men. May we daily grow more like Christ and become worthy of the high price you paid!

So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. [Ephesians 1:6-8 (NLT)]