The Value of Jesus

 May 10, 2024

Friday

Everything has a relative value. Value is not generated by the thing that is valued. It is valued in relationship to other things. For instance, a bottle of water might sell for a dollar in a metropolitan area. A man traveling by foot across the desert with a satchel of money might pay a thousand dollars for that same bottle of water when it is the only one to be found for a hundred miles. Saving his life becomes more valuable than the money he carries. A woman may take a job that pays less but gives her more time with her family. The time she has with her family is more value that the money she could make working longer hours. 

People do not realize these trade-offs in their lives but still follow them. A person may want to learn the piano but chooses not to practice in order to play video games. Another person may want to lose weight but isn't willing to exercise or eat right. Often they will make excuses that explain their trade-off. "I'm just not talented to play the piano" and "my metabolism just won't allow me to lose weight." They often believe these excuses themselves and pardon themselves for not becoming the people they want to be.

Jesus made His value plain.

Luke 14:26–27 (NASB 2020) ²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Many people lessen the impact of these words. They believe they are to embrace their families and their own lives before they follow Jesus. They will say things like, "You can't love others unless you love yourself" and "I need to take care of my family before I can take care of my faith." They don't notice the conflict between their words and the words of Jesus. They don't even realize that they have valued other things ahead of  Jesus. They have a quiet time when it is convenient, come to church when it is expected by others, tip rather than tithe and serve like Jesus needs to bow down to them for their service.

Jesus never stuttered when He called for commitment.

Luke 9:57–62 (NASB 2020) ⁵⁷ As they were going on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” ⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” ⁵⁹ And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”⁶⁰ But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” ⁶² But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

This may just be the reason that faith becomes a leisure activity rather than an essential one. It is easier to go along with this world than to be so radical that others don't know what to do with you. They will say that you are too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good. They don't know where reality exists for they believe it is found in earthly good.

Martha, Mary's sister, complained that Mary wasn't helping her prepare for the guests as Mary sat listening to Jesus. Jesus told her that Mary had chosen that which was greater. I have had many women tell me that they can't understand that story. They see their service more important that being with Jesus. That will only make sense on this side of heaven.

So, what is more valuable to you? There is always a trade-off. Can you say that Jesus is more valuable than family or yourself? Jesus must be at the center of your life for that to be true. And yes, you will be of earthly good as a testimony of faith because heavenly mindedness is of ultimate earthly good.