How do I value?

People value many different things. The value of anything is relative to our sense of how important it is to us. Picasso was a very famous artist. Some value his paintings greatly being willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for one. Personally I would rather have a Norman Rockwell print. From this it should be obvious that even if I could afford a Picasso I have no interest in them therefore they have little value to me.

Some things are worth more than money! There are some things for which I would not trade all the money in the world. Family is one of these things. Certain memories are priceless. Some years ago I went through an unpleasant job change. We were just getting by only to have our income cut by more than 30%. Christmas time rolled around and there was very little money for gifts. Two of my boys went out into the windbreak around our house and found gifts for me. A used razor blade, a shiny black rock and a couple of other things. I wish I still had them today but all I have is the memory. It is priceless! It always brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. Then there is the summer that I got to spend working a new job with those same boys now become teenagers. We would get up early and pile into the cab of an old pickup and drive 60 miles to work. We would sometimes work 12 hours and then have the long drive home. I am not sure that they cherish the time as I do but that doesn't matter. It was the best summer I had had in years.

What does this have to do with our subject of the value of the love of God? Not a lot except that it shows that value is in the mind of the holder. God has already demonstrated the value that He places on us, (John 3:16 Romans 5:8). Have we demonstrated the value we place on His love? Have we demonstrated the value we place on loving Him?

We know what He expects of us. We are to love Him with"all our heart, mind, and soul." "If you love me you will keep my commandments" and others. But what value do we place on His love for us and our love for Him? Two parables of Jesus come to mind. These teachings show how much we are to value the "kingdom of heaven." In Matthew 13:44 and 45 we read of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. In both parables the one who found them sold all that they had in order to obtain them. I suggest that this is how much we should value a loving God.

What is it worth?

Ever heard the old saying: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink"? I am sure you have. Ever try it? Can't do it can you! No matter how hard you try he will not drink if he doesn't want to.

We sometimes equate make and cause as the same thing. Sometimes this is ok. But not this time. The scripture says in Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea. In Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law we find the following definition of the word cause "something that brings about an effect or result " With this definition in mind we would understand the above passage like this: whoever does something that results in one of these stumbling would be better off drowning in the sea. In this there is no need to establish motive because the one stumbling is responsible for their own actions. Let me illustrate it in this way. I was at an auction this past Saturday. Someone or something had dug a hole in the yard sometime before the sale. I wasn't watching where I was going and I stepped in the hole and nearly fell. That would have been embarrasing as there were a lot of people around at the time. The hole caused me to stumble but it did not make me stumble. I chose to step where I did. therefore I alone am responsible for stumbling and whatever made the hole is responsible for providing the opportunity for me to stumble. No one made me step there, it was my choice.

Can someone MAKE you sin? Absaloutly not! Can someone force me to do something against my will? NOPE! All they can do is persuade me to do a thing by creating consequences which I would greatly enjoy or strongly desire not to endure. For example I do not like to fill out financial statements. However the bank says that if I want to get a loan from them I will have to fill them out. Do they make me fill them out? NO! So if I choose not to fill them out, I also choose not to get the loan.

We persuade our children to obey by offering rewards and punishment. It is still their choice. God also offers reward and punishment to encourage us to be obedient. We can obey strictly out of a sense of duty or love can be our motive.

In our past posts we have explored God's love for us and also our love for God. I would now like us to consider the value of the love of God. What is the love of God worth to you? Please express this value in both ways, loving us and loving Him. Happy pondering!