What We Value

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         2020 was sort of a reset year for each of us as to what was truly important. The value we placed on different things changed. Nice business attire wasn't as big a thing as many did zoom calls and tele-commuted. And as many were home - the value we placed on home maintenance and even expanding outdoor areas or home offices became a priority. We're seeing the value of lumber, gas, computer chips, semiconductors, rare earth minerals all skyrocket to meet demand as supply chains were disrupted. Home prices are through the roof!

What we value changes based on our perceived needs at any given time. Would you pay a thousand dollars for a bottle of water? Probably not. But what if you were in the desert dying of thirst? Would you be willing to pay it then? And the value we place on things changes in our different seasons of life. Like when we get married, have kids, job changes, have grandkids, or health issues - what we value changes dramatically. So, at this season of your life...

I. What is Jesus worth to you?

I want you to answer this question for yourself - not what you think I expect from a good, Church-going Christian - but what does your life show you about what Jesus is worth to you?

I want to look at a passage of scripture we call 'the story of the rich young ruler'. It's from Luke 18:18-23 (NIV)...

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (19) "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good - except God alone. (20) You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" (21) "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

(22) When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (23) When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

I've preached this passage before with different various applications - but it's obvious that, to this man, his money, his possessions, they meant a lot to him. His faith in God was definitely a priority as evidenced by his knowledge of scripture - but when Jesus asked him to make a choice - he didn't choose Jesus.

And every time I've heard this passage preached, and I've said it myself - it's not incorrect - but this challenge to give up every material possession was given to this one particular man. This passage isn't saying that in order to follow Jesus everyone has to take a complete vow of poverty. - But it may be a bit telling how quickly we're reassured by that fact...

Even if Jesus is not demanding every single Christian to give up every worldly possession they own - we can't deny that our things, our possessions do have a pretty good hold on us, too. And scripture is very clear that we can't serve two masters. So, where are our priorities? - Based on how you spend your time, how you spend your money, how you live your life, what you think about a lot- what is Jesus worth to you?

And whether or not you are called to give up everything you own, everything you value - I want to remind you that Jesus is...

A. Worth everything

Jesus does call us to choose Him over everything else. Even if He allows us to keep some possessions, to manage them for His purposes - or even if we are called to walk away from everything - giving all of that up to gain Jesus is still a monumental bargain!

The fact that we're allowed to manage some possessions in this life still doesn't make them treasure. They're still just worthless things compared to Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote, in Philippians 3:7-12 (NIV)...

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (8) What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

(10) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Without the resurrection that comes only through Jesus, if this life is all there is - you tell me one material possession that matters in the long run. No possession, no thing, no amount of money can get you into Heaven. - Jesus can! What's more valuable than that in the face of the reality of eternity?

But even as I say that - I don't want to give you the wrong impression. I'm not saying that in order to be a 'real Christian' you have to be a perfect living example of this truth. Paul didn't start out as this amazing example of a man completely sold out to Jesus. In fact, Jesus had to temporarily take away Paul's sight just to get his attention. When you come up out of the baptistry, you are given the gift of God's Holy Spirit - you are washed clean, you are a new creation - but adjusting the old attitude and values may take some time and will take a lot of effort.

What we value changes as we grow. What we value spiritually should change, too, as we grow spiritually. My spiritual values and outlook are very different now than they were when I was baptized over 42 years ago. The value I place on Jesus now as compared to then is immeasurable.

You see, in your spiritual walk - If you don't come to the conclusion that Jesus is worth everything, your relationship with Jesus is in essence...

B. Worth nothing

I'm not suggesting that if you aren't 100% completely 'sold out' for Jesus every single day, or if you haven't taken a vow of poverty that you're not a real Christian. That's not what I'm saying - but, if you don't accept that Jesus is worth everything, if you don't come to fully accept Him - if you only accept some of Jesus - what good is it?

I was talking to a business man a few years back and he was telling me about a friend of his who left a high paying job to become a minister. He told me all about their discussions about Jesus and how his friend insisted that Jesus was the only way to the Father. And he told me - "Yes, Jesus was a good teacher, but as a business man I always like to cut out the middle man. So I follow the old ways and just go straight to God." - Good teacher? But Jesus taught that no one could come to the Father but through Him...

You can't say that Jesus was a good teacher but then reject His teachings. If Jesus isn't worth everything to you, Jesus is worth nothing to you. Jesus never claimed to be a 'middle man' - Jesus claimed to be God incarnate. When challenged by the teachers of the Law, Jesus said...

John 8:56-59 (NIV)

"Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." (57) "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" (58) "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (59) At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

They completely understood Jesus using that name, "I AM", the name God used for Himself and shared with Moses - they understood what Jesus was claiming by using that name for Himself. Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. And either He is and He's worth everything - or He's a liar and worth nothing.

One account from Mark showed how much one woman, specifically Mary as recorded in the other Gospels, how much Mary valued Jesus, from Mark 14:3-6 (NIV)...

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. (4) Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume?

(5) It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. (6) "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me."

So, for a reference point - before the pandemic, the median US income was over $65,000. That's the modern equivalent value of the cost of the perfume that Mary spent on Jesus. She very clearly understood how much Jesus was worth. When was the last time you gave Jesus...

II. An extravagant gift?

If Jesus is worth everything, why would a $65,000 gift be a big deal? It certainly seems like an appropriate token compared to the immeasurable worth of Jesus. I'm not asking each of you to write a $65,000 check for next week's offering.

But what do we give to Jesus? And yes, there absolutely is a financial component here. I've said before that 'Jesus doesn't own your heart if He doesn't own your wallet.' We are to be financially generous with what money we have been given - but this applies to 'things' and time and work as well. It applies to you - we are called to give ourselves to Jesus. When was the last time you gave an extravagant gift to Jesus?

And when you do understand that Jesus is worth everything and you do give Jesus an extravagant gift - whether it be money or things or habits or attitudes or time or work; whatever it may be - when you do give Jesus an extravagant gift - expect that someone will criticize, just like Mary was criticized. Expect that someone will judge it as a waste. "Why would you give up that, you could have done (fill in the blank) with that? What a waste of time or potential or resources..." But Jesus is worth everything and more!

And trust me; I understand extravagant giving of anything to Jesus is difficult in this culture. We're looking toward Heaven but having to live in this world, we have to make a living in this world and provide for our family in this world. And I think we're tempted to think, it would be easier...

A. If we'd see miracles

Meaning, if you look at the story in context, it might have been easier for Mary to give a $65,000 gift to Jesus because she had just recently seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. Seeing something like that would certainly help convince you that nothing of any material worth was anything compared to a man who could raise the dead. So wouldn't it be easier for us to give our all if we would be allowed to see spectacular miracles first hand too?

But I don't think it really would. If Jesus isn't worth everything to you, even seeing miracles with your own eyes probably won't change that. Right after we see the account of Mary's extravagant gift we read this from John 12:9-11 (NIV)...

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. (10) So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, (11) for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

They saw the exact same miracle that Mary did - Jesus brought a dead man back to life! She responded by giving Jesus her all - they responded by rejecting Jesus completely. ... After Jesus Himself rose from the dead, Thomas didn't believe until Jesus showed him His pieced hands and side.

John 20:29 (NIV)

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

That blessing is for us - we didn't get to see Jesus physically resurrected. And because Jesus ascended back to Heaven, we don't have an opportunity like Mary did to give an extravagant gift in quite the same manner. But we can still give extravagant gifts to Jesus by...

B. Giving to others

By giving of ourselves to others. Jesus challenged His followers in this passage from Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV)...

'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, (36) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' (37) "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

(38) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? (39) When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' (40) "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

We can't physically pour perfume on Jesus, but there are of lot of people who could use some of our time and help in the name of Jesus. And as one who has been the recipient of some extravagant gifts from various people from the Deep River family over the years - thank you. You are a blessing! Keep serving others!

But for those who might need a little more encouragement in that direction - Jesus pushed it even farther in His closing of this passage...

Matthew 25:45 (NIV)

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"

I completely understand that all of us have limited finances, time and resources. We can't meet every single need of every person. But it's more an issue of - when you can help someone, when you can give your time, when you can financially afford to be generous - will you?

So What?

What we value changes as we mature, both physically and spiritually. And what we value changes 'us'. What we give ourselves to changes us over time. When you continually give yourself to Jesus, when you spend time with Him in prayer and in reading His Word and in service to Him - it will change you. And you will value Jesus more and more as you grow. But if you claim to know Jesus and don't change over time - what does that show about what you really value?

Take the time this week to look at what you value. Maybe ask your family, your friends - what do they see is most important to you? If it's not Jesus - that just shows that you need to spend more time with Him. If we put anything else above Jesus - what does that say about the depth of our faith?

If Jesus is not worth everything to you - He's worth nothing. Make some changes - today!