Ever Felt Worthless? (Ps. 139:13-16)

Ever felt worthless, like you life doesn't really amount to much? Boy, I have. There have been times when I really wondered why I was even on this earth. I think most people go through those emotions at some time in their life. In this tough economy with unemployment at ten percent and under employment is at twenty percent, I am sure there are a lot people pondering their self worth. Losing a job can sure mess you up, especially if you have been unable to find a new one.

Of course losing a job isn't the only reason for a deflated self image. The loss of virtually anything can have the same effect whether that's losing a house, a family member, a long time friend or group of friends, a chunk of your savings or investments, a long held position of service or something as simple as a sporting event. Self worth is a complicated thing. A poor self image can effect our mood, our productivity, our motivation, our health, our sleep patterns, our attitude, our outlook, our relationships, and our confidence.

To those of you who, like me, have had some recent rough patches that have damaged your self esteem let me remind you of a passage from Psalm 139 that has refreshed me. Verses 13-16 are a reminder that God is totally aware of your situation. He saw it before you knew what hit you. You're whole life was laid out to him before even one day of them ever happened. He was there before you got there or where you are right now. He knew before you were born what you were going to need today in terms of strength, comfort, guidance and resources. He also knows what's in store for you tomorrow.

Your value is not determined by your job or what material things you possess or what level of status you have or by who likes you or who doesn't. Your value has been determined by God. YOU ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. I used to keep a poster in my office during my youth ministry days that simply said, "God don't make no junk!" Not very grammatically correct, but you understand the point. You have been cosmically and custom designed by God to be who you are. Everything God creates is good, because HE sees to it.

That's not to say that we're perfect or that we'll always choose to the right thing or even the good thing. Part of the goodness that God created in us is personal choice. Sorry, can't blame God for our bad choices and there are consequences for the choices we make or have made. But even in our bad choices, God is there to redeem, restore and renew because we are valuable to Him.

If God truly did "knit me together in my mother's womb," as Psalm 139 says, that means that He must have a special purpose for me in His Kingdom and on this planet. He didn't just throw me down here on this planet to take up space. Everything God creates He does so with plan and purpose in mind. Sometimes I'm not always clear what that specific purpose is for me, but I know what His general purpose is for me and that is to bring glory to Him. And as His child in Christ, I am to bring a blessing, His Good News, to the people around me.

I don't have to have a specific job or position or talent or looks or economic level to do that. I simply have to extend myself in behalf of God to others. The Apostle Paul said that he learned to be content in all situations. When you look at Paul's life you realize that if someone had a right to feel down on himself or defeated or all alone or abandoned or rejected or friendless, he certainly did.

But Paul discovered that his value was in God alone, Christ alone. That and God's grace was simply enough for him. Stripped of everything earthly, sitting in a prison cell, he found reason to praise and celebrate and enjoy his life in Christ and to be a blessing to others.

When I center my focus on things of earthly descent or standard, my personal value can get tattered, torn and pretty roughed up. Depression creeps in and steals my joy. But if I can focus on the fact that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, created uniquely by God for His special purpose and pleasure, it changes me. No matter your circumstance, you are still of eternal value and have incredible things to offer to those around you. Just go bless somebody and do it today.

God, it's real easy to start feeling sorry for myself when things don't go my way. I don't why I put so much value on my job or position or economic status. I guess in my desire to be loved and recognized by others, I lose sight of what really gives me value and significance. I get more worried about me than about being the vessel you created me to be as your representative. Thanks for creating me, me. I know that I'm far from perfect, but I'll have to wait for you to do that in me at the resurrection. Give me the courage and confidence to just bless someone else today. I'm trusting in your plan and that you'll take care of my needs and that of my family. I recognize my inadequacies and fallacies, but I put my life in your hands.

Daily Reflections on Prov. 13:4 (I Need a Good Job)

These have got to be the worst of times economically that I've seen since the days of the Carter administration in the late 70's. We don't have the long gas lines or double digit interest rates and inflation, but unemployment is every bit as high or higher. Getting a job with no job skills was really tough back then. I can remember going to 13 places in one day looking for a job, and nobody was hiring. That was depressing to a young over achiever.

Everyone is affected when we face a deep economic downturn. With the challenges facing the US auto industry and their restructure, I expect that we're going to see a depressing ripple affect throughout the country of suppliers feeling the cutbacks and layoffs. Some will be forced to take drastic measures themselves. The downward spiral continues.

Whether the economic times are good or bad, Solomon has some practical advice for us. He says that the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. What he means is that a lot of people have big dreams or aspirations, but dreams and aspirations aren't enough. Just because you would like to do something or become something doesn't necessarily mean it's just going to happen. It takes effort and imagination and more effort and persistence.

I hear the voice of the sluggard in phrases begin, "If only...." It's always about circumstances and luck and the excuses never end. The responsibility is almost always passed to someone or something else. This person often times claims to be a giver when in fact they are really takers and manipulators and users. And as the word implies, they are just lazy. Now not everyone obviously fits into this category, but at best they tend not be self initiators or self motivated.

However, the diligent, Solomon says are fully satisfied. Notice that he doesn't say the super intelligent or the multi-talented or the creative or the really lucky are satisfied. He says the diligent, those who work hard, who hang in there, who stay with it, who do the tough stuff to get to where they need to go. Diligence is more than just working hard, putting your nose to the grindstone and never looking up. It's not about not taking time to enjoy life. Diligence involves working smarter, persistence and flexibility.

Satisfied doesn't necessarily mean filthy rich either. It means satisfied. There is something fulfilling about accomplishing something that you set out to do, even if it's not perfect. I don't have to be the highest paid person or the most successful person in my field to obtain satisfaction. I do have to be willing to work for something while trusting God to give wisdom. If I'm just sitting around whining or complaining or lamenting my circumstances, I'm not going to be satisfied with myself.

I finally found a job that summer. It wasn't glamorous. I bagged groceries part time. I also got another job, unloading and delivering furniture. It wasn't my dream job and I rode a bike to work when I couldn't get a ride, but I was satisfied. I knew it was only a means to an end. I still served God. I was able to share my faith at work. I was glad that God had provided the opportunities.

God, you know I'm not satisfied with everything in my life right now. You know I would love to see our church explode and make a huge impact on our community. I don't want to be a sluggard. I want to be diligent in my efforts and my time. Make my energies profitable for you. Use me to accomplish your will for me. More than anything, I want to be diligent in serving you.

Daily Reflections on Eph. 6:5-9 (Jobs, Bosses and Coworkers)

Have you ever had one of those jobs where you just hated going to work? The environment was horrible. The boss was a butt. The job itself stunk. You couldn't stand the people you worked with. Maybe you hated the hours or the pay or the conditions. It could have been a job that was simply boring or didn't fit your gift mix or talents or personality.

My wife had a job when we first moved to this community that was all of that and more. The tension and pressure was overwhelming. It messed her up. She was a nervous wreck. She'd come home in tears virtually every day. It crippled her self-esteem. One day she left work in the middle of the day so torn up that she threatened not to go back. They had a constant revolving door of employees.

Finding the ideal job where everything is perfect is a rarity. No job is perfect, because no one is perfect. If you find that perfect job, don't take it because you'll mess it up. Because people aren't perfect, we're always going to have some tough days, tough times, tough situations at work.

Paul in this passage gives some sound advice for employees and employers. The conditions of your work environment begins with you, your attitude and your work ethic. He says here to serve your boss, your company with respect, reverence and sincerity in the same way you would serve Christ. He says put your whole self into it. He goes on to say that God will ultimately reward you for your effort. He virtually says the same thing to bosses. He reminds them that they ultimately have to answer to God.

Not every situation can be magically transformed into a wonderful working environment overnight. Some things are out of your control. But God doesn't promise that anyway. God is concerned about our character, our attitudes, our behavior. Let's face it, Jesus didn't have the best working environment. Paul had to face some pretty miserable conditions/persecution while trying to do his job. But we have to remember, God called us to be light and salt; to brighten and flavor/influence our environment.

God, my eyes aren't on pleasing my boss, my employers or co-workers. My eyes are on pleasing you. Help me to be the best that I can be.