Self-worth always brings with it ingratitude; it is one of the absolutes of life. It was the beginning of sin in Satan, and man has followed directly in his footsteps. It is the epitome of pride, the highest level of rebellion against the Lord, for it removes Him as Sovereign. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” (Col. 1:16) And without Him there is no such thing as life, free will, self-awareness, consciousness, all these do not exist with the Lord God, and therefore, without recognition of the Lord as Sovereign, the next, and only step, is self-worth.
Created beings have no ability to continue in this life, we will die, we do not need the Scriptures to help us understand the first part of Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” it is the second half that mankind has always had difficulty believing. There is no viable alternative to the disavowing of the Sovereignty of the Lord save for self-worth, and with that will always arrive ingratitude, in one shape or another. The lost will not recognize Him as Lord, so they are ingrateful, religious organizations set up standards of laws and precepts, ones that must be adhered to less His wrath or displeasure fall upon them, or even those cults that profess Him as Lord, but must attempt to add something to the cross that He bore, ingratitude, accompanied with the utmost self-worth, pride of selfish accomplishments.
We do not exist without God, it is that simple, He has no need for us in any way, our love for Him does not increase who He is, the hatred or disbelief in His existence does not diminish Him, He is self-sufficient, and He is the only One who ever will be. The majority of mankind has followed Satan since day one, even when they do not recognize him as such, “I will” is self-worth, I will says that we are self-sufficient, self-determined, and that self-worth puts itself upon a throne, one of its own making, devoid of the acknowledgement of the Holy.
Each man, whether he be king or pauper, attempts to retain this false throne for the entirety of his life, for to give it up is to accept the realization that self has no value, that the throne does not belong to us, in fact, it does not even exist. This my friends, is why it is impossible to be born-again, (John 3:7) to be crucified with Christ, (Gal 2:20) unless you die to self, the realization of the truth of the Sovereignty of God in all creation must be firmly established in your mind, in your heart, in all that you are, there can be no doubt of this truth.
“Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) In no few words the Lord God Almighty showed Job, and all who are willing to listen, that He alone is the reason for the existence of all that is, that no life anywhere exists without Him, that He is the potter, and He will do with the clay as He pleases. (Isaiah 64:8) “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” (Romans 9:18) That self-worth in our eyes is no more than an illusion.
It brings graciousness, the mercy and love of the cross to light, it shows to us just how demeaning it was for the Creator of all that is to have hung there, and it shows us a love that we will never truly comprehend. Why do we exist, if the word “necessary” does not exist for God? For His good pleasure, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
Here you must make a decision, one that could affect not only the course of the rest of your life, but where you will spend eternity at, what is of more value to you, your self-worth, or the worth that Christ has placed upon you solely for His glory.
