What do you think you’re worth?

There was a snide remark about proud folks when I was a kid: “If I could buy him for what he is worth and sell him for what he thinks he is worth, I’d be rich!” The remark may be snide, but it brings up a good question: What do you think you’re worth?

Some might say that they are worthless, just no good for anybody or anything. Others may have the attitude that the world could not survive without them; their company would fail, their family would disintegrate, their associates would flounder, wither and die. Detractors and fans alike might agree with either scenario, but they are appraising the physical, mortal human being apart from eternal considerations.

There are many super achievers these days who would sell their souls to achieve their goals in life. They would do most anything to gain wealth, recognition, fame, power, control or other objectives. In that vane, Jesus asked a searching question: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matthew 16:26)?

In the context of the verse, Jesus declared, “. . . If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [make the cross of Christ his own cross], and follow me. For whosoever will save his life [for personal material gain] shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it [in eternity]” (16:24, 25). He then follows with this explanation: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his work” (16:27).

Dear reader, your soul is much more valuable than anything that you can desire, acquire and achieve of this world’s offerings. But to receive the reward that Jesus spoke about, you must become one of his disciples, for the whole discourse was given to “his disciples” according to verse 24. To qualify, you must personally “take up his cross, and follow” him. His cross must become your place of death to self-ambition and self-glory “for [his] sake.” He must become your Savior, the bearer of your sins, and your provider of eternal life so that you may be alive to receive his reward when he comes “in the glory of his Father.”