Your value
A Christian Science perspective.
It’s sometimes surprising to realize how many things in our life have a great deal of value. Even mechanical, less valuable things have value. I know someone who has a special place on his garage walls to hang each tool. Most of them have a marker outline that reminds him where each one is supposed to be – rakes, shovels, weed-whacker, crescent wrenches, whisk broom – even the marker itself.
When we consider how we cherish and take care of material things, it gives us hope to realize how much more God, divine Love, cherishes and takes care of each of us as His sons and daughters. Everyone is important, useful, and valued in God’s eyes. Why? Because everyone has been created to express God’s goodness and glorify Him as His perfect reflection.
The Bible says, “[B]ring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:6, 7).
What if a person is unemployed, undereducated, or past retirement? Can he find that place where he is useful and beneficial? Can she find productivity in a society or job market where opportunities are limited or even seem to be nonexistent? When each one of us accepts the spiritual idea that God has “created him for my glory,” then thought is open for opportunities to appear and come to fruition. When our desire is to serve God and bless our fellowman, then those opportunities come to light.
Recently my wife and I were told of a woman who was not overly qualified in any field, and who decided to use what she had in her home to make dishwashing “scrubbies” for friends and neighbors. We also knew a man years ago who had retired from his profession as a radio announcer. He then went on to become an advisor for a local small-business association.
Every single one of God’s ideas is valuable, useful, and created for a purpose. Each one of us, as His ideas, reflects Truth and Love, harmony and goodness. God is our Maker, our Creator, and in His own unique way He needs each one of us. Why? He needs us to manifest His existence, reality, and goodness. The sun needs each ray of light to reflect the sun’s radiance and warmth. Music needs notes to manifest harmony and beauty. Mathematics needs numbers to demonstrate order and productivity for finances, architecture, even food recipes. A digital photograph needs every single pixel for the whole picture to be seen.
What if someone has hit a brick wall and no opportunities are apparent? Or what if we don’t know what it is we have to give? Prayer to listen humbly for God’s direction is a great help. Many people have found that praying with the earnest desire, “Thy will be done,” from the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus gave us, opens their heart to hear God’s direction. Often we simply have to lift our thought to realize that we are not irrelevant mortals, but we are essential spiritual ideas with our own purpose and mission.
In a very specific way, the founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, conveys a wonderful sense of individuals’ ongoing usefulness and value. Writing to one Christian Science church, she said: “Goodness never fails to receive its reward, for goodness makes life a blessing. As an active portion of one stupendous whole, goodness identifies man with universal good. Thus may each member of this church rise above the oft-repeated inquiry, What am I? to the scientific response: I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing” (“The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,” p. 165).
This is true for everyone. And when we have the desire to do good, this will give us not only the confidence, but the expectancy and opportunity “to impart truth, health, and happiness” in the way that best lets our value shine.