Are you amongst those who, through no fault of their own, will have only the State Pension to look forward to on retirement? Or perhaps you have a works pension to depend on.It's certainly wise to plan for the future if we can. The Bible says so: "Go the the ant...consider her ways and be wise."(Proverbs 6:6) We tend, however, to look at worth purely in terms of money and possessions. Attitudes in our nation drag us into this sort of thinking yet there is a far more important side to the question of "What am I worth?"The Apostle Paul wrote to his young Christian friend Timothy: "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (I Timothy 6:7) This obvious truth - so often ignored - gives us God's view of possessions. .
To God, all are equal, rich or poor, male or female of whatever colour. Genesis 1:26 tells us: "Then God said,'Let Us make man in Our image'". It is the fact that we are all created in the image of God that gives a true measure of our worth. Yet many today see themselves of no worth. They have little money or are in debt, have no place in society, friends have let them down and life has been cruel.
If we want to know how precious we are to God and how He loves each of us then we need look no further that His actions. We have all turned our backs on Him, ignoring His laws. We do wrong habitually. Sin has marred the image. We know it is only right for those who break the law of England to be punished. So too is it only right that our breaking of God's law has consequences. Yet He did not wait for us to reform ourselves, for He knew that was impossible. We read in the Bible: "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly….God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.
Such was the love of God for us that He sent His Only Son to earth to die on a cross. There, though sinless and pure Himself, God's Son was being punished in our place so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven and find peace with God.
How much are you and I worth? So much that Christ was prepared to suffer and die for us. As many have discovered, it is only through faith in Christ that we can know our true worth and experience the freedom and contentment that that brings. Yes, it is important that we try to plan ahead - but for eternity as well as time.