Answers to this question typically fall into one of three catagories. Many judge their worth by what they have accomplished. They think, “I am a good provider for my family, I set a good example in the world, and my occupation is very necessary for the good of other people.” Another response is to place a dollar value symbolic of power and influence after one’s name, for “men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself.” (Psa. 49:18). And there are yet others who esteem their greatest personal worth to lie in the excellent causes they espouse, being teachers, social workers, preachers, etc., whereby they hope to mold and influence the minds of others to live life to the full. But what does the God of the Bible say about the good opinions men hold of themselves? “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” (Jer. 9:23,24). God turns the whole focus of attention to be upon Himself and His works rather than upon man’s goodness and glory. As the Creator and Sustainer of all life He is right in doing so, as He demonstrates in Psalm 50:10-12: “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”
Does God therefore scorn the natural desires, abilities, and attainments of men? No, but He desires to occupy a place far above these things in men’s thoughts and affections. Such devotion to God is possible because, unlike the beasts that perish, every man possesses an eternal soul, the value of which is greater than the amassed wealth of the entire world, and the loss of which is irrecoverable and unspeakable: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk. 8:36,37).
God also shows man the worth of his precious soul by the price He was willing to pay to redeem His people, His church, from sin, death, and hell. Acts 20:28 records this price to be “his own blood.” Some teachings of scripture are understood only through much reading and study, but the way of salvation from sin by Jesus Christ lies on the very surface of God’s Word, openly illustrated, prophesied, and proclaimed in every book of the Bible: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (Isa. 53:6; Mk. 2:17; Lk. 19:10; Rom. 5:8; Gal. 1:4; I Tim. 1:15).
Christ’s salvation is not universal, but is limited to those who with the eye of faith look to Him crucified for their sins. Those who truly do so cannot thereafter continue to love sin and live to please themselves, but will gladly say with the Apostle Paul, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20). Reader, has the dying love of Christ so conquered your heart that you would not exchange Him for ten thousand worlds?