Stop Devaluing Yourself

GOD takes great joy in those who are willing to practice humility. Jesus taught His disciples that true greatness in the Kingdom would come to those who were willing to be humble as a little child. (Matthew 18:4) However, practicing humility and devaluing our worth is not the same. Declaring ourselves worthless as a worker in GOD’S Kingdom is just as, if not more dangerous, than being prideful.

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a parable that illustrates this danger. Three servants were given talents by their master and instructed to take what they had been given and be productive. “A talent was a large sum of money, about six thousand denarii. denarius represented the day’s wage for a typical working man.” (NNIBC) The first servant was given five talents, the second two, and the third, one. The five talent and two talent servants took their talents and were profitable. The Master was pleased and rewarded them. The third however, did nothing with his talent, other than cover it with dirt. When the Master came to him, he said, ‘Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. And because I was afraid, I went and hid your talent in the earth. Now look, you have your own.” Matthew 25:24-25

This servant hid his talent because he was afraid. He doubted his ability to be profitable with what his master had given him. He feared his master’s expectations and his assessment of his ability to meet those expectations was lacking. As a result, his master declared him lazy and unprofitable. The servant’s talent was taken away and he was cast out of the presence of his master. Matthew 25:26-30

You matter to GOD. I matter to GOD. I know because the Bible tells me so!

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

When we were without strength and ungodly, GOD demonstrated His love for us. As a sinner deserving of death, Jesus died in our place.  

If you are devaluing yourself and your ability, STOP! You and your work matter to GOD. Never devalue what you bring. Never think that you are insignificant and therefore bury your talent. Whatever GOD has given you, take it, use it, and give it back to GOD.

“Everyone who uses what they have will get more. They will have much more than they need. But people who do not use what they have will have everything taken away from them.” Matthew 25:29 (ERV)