Works Don’t Equal Worth

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 (NKJV)

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Did you know that when God spoke about Jesus in today’s verse, Jesus had done nothing notable or significant yet?

When John the Baptist baptized Jesus, Jesus hadn’t performed one miracle. He hadn’t died on the cross or risen again. On the outside, He hadn’t done anything of value for humanity, and yet God proudly announced that He was pleased with His Son. For what? He hadn’t done anything!

You see, that kind of thinking is our problem. We think God loves us more when we do great things. But our works don’t increase our worth to God.

Now, of course, I want to do great things for God—just not to earn my self-worth. Why? Because God already gave me self-worth, and He didn’t tie it to my actions or behaviour. 

Think about it. Is a baby—who does nothing but eat, sleep and poop—valued less because they haven’t accomplished anything with their life yet? Do a toddler’s parents love them more when they figure out how to walk and talk? Of course not! As parents, we are in love with our kids from day one, simply because of who they are to us. God is the same way. 

Psalm 8:5 says He crowned us with dignity and worth. God has planted His love in us and invested Himself in us. He experienced immense joy in creating us. We are His children, and because of that, we can move through life confidently knowing that our self-worth is a God-given, inseparable part of us.

God looked at Jesus and loved Him for who He was. He looks at you the same way.

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