Under-Over

Most people at some time during their life feel as if they are underpaid, underestimated, undervalued or underappreciated.  This might be at their job, their marriage or in many other parts of their daily life. The same people, when they are honest and introspective with themselves might discover that they have overestimated their importance, their value, their performance, their appearance and several others facets of their life.

Usually after a rejection, demotion, or failure people tend to denigrate themselves. They judge themselves as unworthy, unlikeable and unsuccessful. Yet if they receive a promotion or a raise, they feel validated and even arrogant. The truth surely lies somewhere in the middle and tends to fluctuate over time and circumstances.

We can see both of these under and over attitudes in one of Jesus’ parables (Lk 18:9-14).  The Pharisee was proud and loudly extolled his virtues, whereas the tax collector was so convicted of his worthlessness that he would not even look up to heaven. God exalts the humble and humbles the arrogant, but humble people don’t have to denigrate, defame or disparage themselves.

The Apostle Paul recalls his over days with a list of credentials about what an outstanding Pharisee he once was (Php 3:4-7).  But once he was immersed into Jesus Christ, (Acts 22:16) he realized how little all that mattered and he considered all that he lost as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as his Lord. He put himself under the rule of Christ and was severely persecuted for it.

Many scriptures tell us how important one soul is to God.  It is worth more than the whole physical world (Mt 16:26).  Angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents (Lk 15:10).  God even cares about each individual sparrow (Lk 12:6) but values a soul far above many sparrows and even knows the number of hairs on our head (v 7). He has been exceptionally patient with mankind not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance (2 Pe 3:9).  And of course, He sacrificed His Son because of His love for all humanity (Jo 3:16).

Therefore, we can never overestimate our own value-based works nor can we undervalue our worth to God. This does not mean that we have nothing to do after God’s grace and our faith and trust save us. “We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” ( Eph 2: 10). If we love God and our neighbor, we will never feel too over or under.  

-Jim Bailey