There is a big rush in the word. Many are participating in the race to prove their value.

The value is often pursued by the work we do, achievements, abilities, and status.

Some of us are richer in these things than others. Others go to the extreme of taking their own lives because they don’t see the value in themselves.

Is this race what God would love to see? Maybe it’s a sign of brokenness?

Wrestling with the storm of anxiety

Let’s look at the story of Mary and Martha. This scripture is often used to highlight the importance of spending time with Jesus above trying to serve Him.

There’s also a different angle that exists in the story.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42, ESV)

Jesus noted that Martha was anxious. What do you think she was worried about?

If a famous person came to eat at your house with many of his fans, you feel an overwhelming responsibility to serve them well.

Why?

It might be once in a lifetime opportunity to show your worth not only to the famous guy but also to the crowd. It’s an opportunity to impress!

Just think about it! A million things can go wrong! So many mistakes are just waiting to happen and leave you in the bottomless pit of shame for the rest of your life.

Everything is at stake here, and this silly little sister forgot her responsibilities!

Alright, let’s stop here!

Did Mary really forget her responsibilities?

We know Jesus praised for the choice to listen to His words instead of wrestling the storm of anxiety in the kitchen.

How to make sense of that?

There is a principle in the military called the commander's intent. The commander cannot foresee everything the enemy is going to do. He gives orders to the soldiers according to the expectation of the outcome.

However, it happens that circumstances flip upside down and all these orders become impossible to follow. Most of the time, there’s no way to gather around the table to discuss a new strategy and get updated orders.

The only thing that keeps soldiers on the course is the commander’s intent. Without speaking to each other, soldiers know what kind of outcome their commander wants to see and they move on according to this intent.

What was Jesus’ intent of visiting Mary and Martha?

I doubt that it was to be fed or check up if this particular family was able to impress Him.

Jesus declared His mission statement quite clearly when He was quoting from Isiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18–19, ESV)

Three times Jesus repeats the word “proclaim”. It shows he came to speak to the people. If He came to speak, our part is to listen.

Someone might argue that you need to honor God by serving Him. Yes, but who sets the terms how it must look like? God or us?

To make sure people don’t strife to serve Jesus, He boldly highlighted:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, ESV, emphasis mine)

Knowing this, Mary didn’t forget her responsibilities. She was actually honoring Jesus by understanding the importance of His presence. She was fulfilling the commander's intent!

It's a wasted opportunity if Jesus came to visit you and you didn’t even get to spend time with Him because you were busy serving.

When I come home, my mom tries to show me love by cooking me a nice meal. It’s good, but I would rather spend time with her instead of seeing her anxiously trying to serve me.

I leave my parents’ home filled with nice food but disappointed with the lack of quality time with my parents and making them work more than usual.

Our value to God

Our value is not determined by the action or the object we are able to produce. The strife to produce something only builds anxiety in our hearts.

Where is the value then?

Our value to God is predetermined in His heart. We can do nothing to change His opinion about us.

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, ESV)

In other words, before we did anything useful, Jesus gave Himself up for us in love.

By doing certain actions we only try to prove our value to ourselves and maybe some other people. This will never end if we don’t recognize that we are valuable to God for who we are, not for what we achieved.

At the end of the day, it’s all by the grace of God. We are who we are only because God gave us the abilities and gifts to do something a bit more special. It’s definitely not the reason to boast. If there’s no reason boast there is no comparison that can be made with someone else.

Our value to the world

The world-given value system is far from perfect. It’s actually upside down.

The world persecutes and kills those that want the common good:

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:37–38, ESV, emphasis mine)

Yet people who disregard the weaker are being upheld in higher esteem!

Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? (James 2:6b–7, ESV)

Honestly, the world doesn’t notice the real and true value of selfless love. It will be blind to the end. Therefore, there’s no use to try to prove anything.

Let’s leave this empty race. Instead, let’s trust the opinion of God and with the peace that it gives be a blessing to people around us.

Only in the confidence of God’s view on us our hearts will settle. This peace melts down the fear of not measuring up and gives eyes to see the needy. It empowers to reach out and through the strength of God to bring in selfless love to the world.

If you don't feel valued by the world, ask God to show you how He sees you. His opinion has much more weight than anyone else’s.

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