What Is God’s Heart on Self-Worth?
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day try to trap Him. They want to get Jesus to say something so they have
grounds for arresting Him. After some flattery and compliments, they try to bait Him. “‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we
know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell
us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?’” (Mark 12:14–15 NLT).
Their question is designed to place Jesus in a political and religious dilemma where, depending on His answer,
He would upset the Jews or the Romans. Jesus, however, knows their malicious intent . . . “Jesus saw through
their hypocrisy and said, ‘Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you’” (Mark 12:15 NLT).
After receiving a coin, Jesus asks, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.” (Mark 12:16).
Jesus concludes, “Well, then . . . give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God” (Mark
12:16 NLT).
The Bible says, “His reply completely amazed them” (Mark 12:17 NLT). His answer ought to amaze us, too—not
because He wisely evades a trap, but because of what Jesus alludes to about our worth. By asking the religious
leaders about the coin, “Whose image is this?” . . . He indirectly poses a question: Caesar’s image may be on the
coin, but whose image is on you?
You are made in God’s image. Because of that, you have infinite worth—more than any coin or currency this
world can afford. You belong to God. The Creator and King of the universe not only created you in His image,
but He cares for you. He crowns you with glory and honor, showing your infinite, inherent, unchangeable worth.
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.”
(Psalm 8:3–5)
God wants you to see yourself through His eyes—as His image-bearer with infinite worth.
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:26-27, 31).
God wants you to see yourself through His eyes—as precious and honored in His sight.
“You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you” (Isaiah 43:4).
God wants you to see yourself through His eyes—as His beloved child.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we
are!” (1 John 3:1).
God wants you to know that you are fully accepted in Christ—not due to your performance but due to His grace.
“He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV).
God will not reject His people, His beloved possession.
“The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession” (Psalm 94:14 NLT).
God understands the pain of being devalued and held in low esteem.
“He [Jesus] was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and
familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was
despised, and we held him in low esteem” (Isaiah 53:3).
God offers healing from past pain, guilt, and shame.
“Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me” (Psalm 30:2).
God wants you to forgive those who hurt you and led you to feel worthless.
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).
God wants you to show respect to everyone because we all bear His image.
“Show proper respect to everyone” (1 Peter 2:17).
God wants you to encourage others who have low self-worth.
“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them”
(Ephesians 4:29 NLT).
God wants you to look to Him and His Word to find your true worth.
“You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope” (Psalm 119:114 NLT).
