What Is My Worth?
How is my worth related to my social connections? Should I count my current possessions in my worth? Does my earnings potential play a part in the calculation? If these are the sort of questions you are asking, you are completely heading in the wrong direction.
How do I calculate my worth? When thinking about our worth, we tend to focus on what we have and what we do or produce. With this attitude, we are always striving to impress others and acquire wealth. But our true worth lies in who we are!
My Worth Is Who I Am!
God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them;
Genesis 1:27
male and female he created them.
So what is my worth? First of all, we are valuable because we are created in God’s image. So if we truly honor God above all else, we will value ourselves and others also.
God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.
Genesis 1:31
I Am Valuable
We are valuable because God says we are good. This gives each and every one of us dignity. We respect the creative power of God when we value ourselves and others.
The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:
Catechism of the Catholic Church – 27
The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator.
Others Matter Too
So what is my worth? Your worth and the worth of every other person is rooted in God’s love for each of us. God created us for community with him and each other.
If human dignity were based solely on the successes and accomplishments of individuals, then those who are weak, sick, or helpless would have no dignity. Christians believe that human dignity is, in the first place, the result of God’s respect for us. He looks at every person and loves him as though he were the only creature in the world. Because God has looked upon even the least significant child of Adam, that person possesses an infinite worth, which must not be destroyed by men.
Youcat – Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church – 280 comment
Good News!
So God does not look at our worth the way the world often views worth. Our worth is not based on our clothes, or having the latest gadget, or how many likes we have on social media. Our worth is in our relationship with God. This is why it is important that we spend time developing that relationship by going to Mass, praying, reading scripture, and belonging to a faith community.
What is my worth? Beyond measure, because I am a child of God. This is Good News!
Printable Copy of What Is My Worth?
Related Resources
Is the Price Right? (Value Game)
Consumerism and materialism can make it seem like everything has a dollar value. Value games like Is the Price Right help youth understand that not everything is defined by a price tag.
People Sort Activity
People sort is an activity which can be used as an icebreaker or opening activity for a youth group meeting focused on human dignity, immigration, or institutional racism. Use the debrief time to have an honest discussion about why we group people by race rather than other characteristics.
Leave a Reply