Daily devotional, May 10, 2024 The Pawnshop
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Before the digital age of borrowing money online, ordinary people relied on pawnshops for financial emergencies. There, they brought over their jewelry, and later on other valuables like mobile phones, laptops, and even cars to pawn.
The pawnshop staff will assess the value of the item. The assessor carefully considers the item, and determines its worth by thoroughly inspecting it and checking on its quality, authenticity, and signs of damage. Upon assessment, he will then give the equivalent money to the lender. Once the lender can pay, he can go back to the pawnshop within the redemption period and then redeem his item.
As human beings, we usually tie our worth with our achievements, skills, qualifications, financial assets, and abilities. Our worth could depend on our rank in the office, our children’s achievements, our image as a wife and a mom, the zeroes in our bank account, the brands we use, the figures on the weighing scale, the number of stamps in our passport, or even the number of hearts and likes we get on social media.
When we see our worth in these worldly pursuits, we tend to crumble when we do not get the value we think we deserve. We push ourselves to work harder than we should and snap at the ones we hold so dear because of sheer exhaustion and immense pressure to perform. We get depressed when we do not get that promotion in the workplace, or recognition in the community, or appreciation in our families. We break down when we cannot have the best that the world offers: best furnishings, luxury goods, travels, comfort and relaxation, and gastronomic finds. We fall into our faces, get stuck in comparing our lives with others, and we get burnt out.
But if we follow Jesus, abide in Him, and fully understand that our worth is not in how the world sees us, we can be free. When we understand how much God loves us and how He sees us, we will feel secure in spite of our challenges, difficulties, and current circumstances:
"Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life."
Isaiah 43:4
When we no longer seek to increase our worldly value, we can be free from the shackles of constantly needing affirmation from people we do not even care about. We get to be unchained from the ties that seek the approval of those who do not even positively contribute in our lives. We can take to heart that our value is in how our Heavenly Father sees us:
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
1 John 3:1
We should see ourselves as children of God. Worthy of His love, mercy and grace. Since our identity is in Christ, we are given the opportunity to be reborn in His love. To get the redemption and new life that He extended to us by dying on the cross. As His children, we are no longer enslaved to how the world views us, instead, we only aim to please our Lord God and Savior. He, whose only aim is to keep us in His love, safely under His wings:
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."
Galatians 5:1
And as children of God, we have the opportunity to live in eternity with Him. We are His children and therefore, we inherit eternal life in Christ Jesus.
"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as he is pure."
1 John 3:2-3
Let us not allow the world to dictate our worth. Let us not allow it to dictate our pace, and leave us running in circles without a direction and life purpose. We should not allow the world to push us into the pit of depression and anxiety. It is our sovereign King who truly sees our value. It is He who determines our worth.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 1 John 3:1-10 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you let the world determine your worth?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for opening my eyes to the truth that you determine my worth. Allow me to remain tethered in your love, and under your wings. I no longer want a life dictated by worldly cares, instead I want to pursue a purposeful life aligned to your will. Amen.
