What Are You Worth?

July 29, 2007

Introduction

 

What Are You Worth?  Each year around April 15, we have to evaluate how much we have made.  Each year the banks with which we deal ask us for a financial statement, and at the bottom, there is a line which reads, “net worth.”

 

This morning, we are not talking about the so called, bottom line of your profit for the year, or your “net worth,” we’re asking, “What are you worth?”  I have been preaching here for 22 ½ years, and as I look out over the audience this morning, I’m looking at pews where many sat whose funerals I have preached.  What do we do at funerals?  We usually reflect on the lives of those who have passed on.  There are tears at most funerals as people reflect on the lives of those who have passed on.

 

So, this morning, while you are here in the land of the living, what are you worth?  What are you worth as a father or mother?  What are you worth as a husband or wife?  What are you worth as a member of this congregation?  What are you worth?  Who are you? 

 

Body

 

    I.  Who are you?

 

A.  You are a creature of God, but a very special creature.

 

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 

1.  We are special in that God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life.

 

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

 

2.      Not only did man become a living being, God gave him a spirit as well.

 

B.  We are of value because God made us special, and God values us.

 

1.  God redeemed us with the blood of His Own Son.

 

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

   II.  What are you worth?

 

A.  You can be worth a lot to someone.

 

1.  Timothy had a mother and grandmother who were worth a lot to him.

 

2 Timothy 1:5 “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

 

a.  They were worth a lot because of the spiritual training they gave him.

b.  He came to know God because of their lives and their teaching.

 

2.  What are you worth to others?

 

a.  Have you encouraged someone who was discouraged?

b.  Have you encouraged someone to attend services or to become a Christian?

 

3.      Barnabas was an encourager.

 

a.  He was nicknamed, “Son of Encouragement.”

 

(Acts 4:36-37 NKJV)  And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, {37} having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

 

b.      He was the encourager of the apostle Paul.

 

(Acts 11:22-26 NKJV)  Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. {23} When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. {24} For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. {25} Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. {26} And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

 

B.  What are you worth in heaven?

 

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; {20} “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

 

  A Cablegram from Heaven

 

 In 1910 A secretary of a British missionary society asked a Calcutta merchant for his help in their work He drew a check for $250 and handed it to the visitor. At that moment a cablegram was brought in. He read it and looked troubled.  "This cablegram," he said, "tells me that one of my ships has been wrecked and the cargo lost. It makes a very large difference in my affairs. I will have to write you another check."  The secretary understood perfectly and handed back the check for $250. The check book was still open and the merchant wrote him another check and handed it over. He read it with amazement it was a check for $1,000.  He said, "Haven't you made a mistake!" "No" said the merchant "I haven't made a mistake." And then with tears in his eyes, he said. "That cablegram was from my Father in Heaven. It read 'Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth.’”

 

C.  What are you worth to the IRS?

 

1.  The IRS is concerned about money -- revenue.

2.  Don’t let the IRS confuse you -- There isn’t a dollar value that represents what you are worth. 

III.  Why does it matter what you are worth?

 

A.  You need to know that you are very precious to God.

 

1.  The meek and gentle spirit is precious to God.

 

1 Peter 3:3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

 

2.  A genuine Christian faith is far more precious than gold.

 

1 Peter 1:5 “who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. {6} In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, {7} that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”

 

B.     Jesus asked a sobering question:  What will you give in exchange for your soul?

 

(Mat 16:26 NKJV)  "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

1.  Some will exchange their soul for things of little value.

2.  What are you worth to God and others?

 

Conclusion

I.  What are you worth to others?

II.  Christ has paid the price for your redemption.

III.  Have you confessed Jesus as the Son of God and put Him on in baptism?

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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