WHAT ARE WE WORTH

They say if we add up the cost of all the minerals in the human body the grand tally would be around 98 cents. Now that may be for the physical remains of our body, but in God I would tell you we are worth much more. In reality we are worth the death of Jesus on the cross, but that is for another article for another day. But the operative value would depend on the person and not some standard from which to draw conclusions, oh no the value of a man depends not on money, but on the work God has been able to do in our lives. This too is why our worth is increased NOT by what we can gain, but what we can lose. The more we can lose of our self and the world the more valuable we will be to God. We would think the more knowledge and wisdom of the world we gain the more useful we will be to God, well no that is not right. One would think the better and more skillful we get in our abilities and gifting (even in God) the more God can use us, well no that also is not right. The truth here is the more of the worldly ways and desires we can lose, the more of our selfishness, our self-seeking nature, our self righteousness we can lose the more profitable we can become and be used in God's service for His glory. Funny how we always get this backwards, maybe that is why not many are useful in God's service. Watchman Nee said, "the broken alone are useful to God.' Did you get that "the broken alone are useful." Not too many Christians want to be broken by God. We even think we can break ourselves of habits and issues in our lives: we have 10 step, 12 step methods to quit addictions you name it, but they do not work. Only God and God alone (when He changes our heart and desires) can break the chains that hold our mind and bodies in the bondage of addictions. More police and better healthcare programs are not the answer to the opioid epidemic that is sweeping America. God and God alone (as He crushes our heart and desires) can crush this heinous scourge. So too in our spiritual bodies. The more we allow God to crush us and break us the more He can use us. Now this crushing can be what we think and what we do not think. One thing I am learning is the longer we go in God the harder God's tests become and the more subtle. One would think God is trying to set us up or trick us in some way, but no this is not the case. God expects us to learn the lessons He has taught us. God does not expect us to learn the lesson for the test and then forget it. When I was in college I would cram (because I was working in the US Navy and had a family) for a test and learn the material long enough so I could pass the test, then it was forgotten because I never really did learn the material. Well that is not how God operates. God expects us to learn and remember every test He brings our way. God expects us to have the spiritual wherewithal to discover the work that God desires to do in our lives and to retain the work He has deposited in our heart. And oh how sweet the deposits are after they have worked into our lives. This kind of reminds me of the words of Thomas Watson when he said, "till sin be bitter Christ will not be sweet." These testings from God can be bitter, but if we endure and learn from them they will be sweet as Christ, like honey in our mouth. Recently I experienced a test that caught me off guard, but when it was over all I could say was, this is the doings of the LORD and it was marvelous in my sight. For those who know me they also know I like football (not soccer) and I like coaching/teaching football. For the last four years I have taught football as a coach (last three as the head coach) at the Middle School level (grades 6-8) and this year I decided to try to move up to the high school level (grades 9-12), so I applied to be an assistant coach at the high school. To my surprise I was selected to be one of five coaching positions. I was happy God gave me a desire of my heart and the money, well as an assistant coach I would get (before taxes) $7,000. What could I do with $7,000? Sink some of the money into BHG. Buy some new things for the home. I think I had the money spent before I earned it. Happy yes, yet at the same time puzzled. I knew all of our games were played on Friday night and I also knew at the present time Freddy, Gerald, and I were going up to Craven Detention Center to talk to 275+ prisoners the second and fourth Friday of the month. I was confused to say the least. I knew God wanted me to apply for the assistant coaching job and when hired I knew God wanted me to coach which meant I could not go to prison on Friday night. So I went with what God was doing at the time even through it seemed strange to me. We need to stop asking so many questions and just go along for the ride with what God is doing. Well as the season opened I was excited (I like coaching football), but as summer work outs began I began to see the lack of leadership of the coaching staff. Worse I began to see the great lack of integrity of the coaching staff (from the head coach down) and of the program. I was asked to do some things that would require me to lie, turn my head to coaches using tobacco on the field and to turn a blind eye to coaches with alcohol on their breath. I was even more confused. We were only four games (got beat by over 40 points each game, God does not bless a mess) into the season when God sent Pastor S.J Peter and his lovely wife Helen from Hyderabad, India by for a visit. We planned to drive them down to Charleston, SC after about a week in town and hand them off to Pastor Ronnie Huneycutt. At our HGM Pastor Peter spoke from Psalms 26, "Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide." (Psalms 26:1) God was speaking to me. Here David (the one in the Bible) resorts to God confidence of his own integrity. God was speaking to me about my integrity. The next day (Wednesday) a few more things (God is good to pile on things) happened at practice and I was at the end of myself. Thursday things came to a head and I called the principle and told him I was going to resign. He asked for my resignation in writing (he wanted to investigate my comments) so I sent him a four page resignation letter detailing my time with the team. My heart was clear now. Friday when I went to Craven Detention Center with Freddy I had something personal to share with the prisoners. I told them my story and let them know my integrity was worth more than $7,000. I could have turned my head or winked at the lack of integrity, but I chose to walk away from $7,000. God's number is 7 was there a connection here? Yes! Within me there grew a strength that I never had before. I have never left $7,000 on the table. The next day (Saturday) as we drove down to Charleston, SC the LORD let me know He was testing me through all of this. God wanted me to do football and not go to Craven Detention Center so He could test me. I slid down in my seat and calmly told Karen, Pastor Peter, and Helen what the LORD told me. What was I worth? More than $7,000. As I said the longer we go in God the harder and the more subtle the tests become. I never expected God to test me with football, but He did. What we like God is good at going after in our lives. As a matter of fact He will do whatsoever He wants to do to test us. Now the test is not about seeing if we can pass or fail. The test is about qualifying or being approved for the next thing God has for us. If we fail the test make no mistake my friend we will see the same test in a different form on a different day. What are we worth? God's Son Jesus Christ gave His life for us. What is the value of Jesus' life? One cannot measure this, but one can measure the value and cost of loss we must experience to pay the price. Nothing is free in God. Even our salvation cost Jesus His life. Everything we get from God will cost us something make no mistake my friend we are worth what we pay for in God.