Visiting the place I grew up in Korea reminded me of the cultural baggage that I carry around in my walk with Christ. It is a culture that puts prime importance on performance and appearance. You may think, “But all cultures do that!” Well, not to the extent that Korea does. Moms give their daughters a plastic surgery as a high school graduation gift! Your future career is entirely dependent upon the one college entrance exam you take at age 18! If you don’t believe me, next time you go to Seatac airport, check out the flight attendants for Asiana Airline. They all look like walking mannequins!

That culture is ingrained in me. “My worth is in how I perform!” Even in ministry, how I feel about myself is in how the church is doing. The mood on Monday mornings is largely dependent on the previous day’s attendance…

Well, that’s my battle. That’s the cultural baggage that I’m fighting to get rid of. And how do I battle it? With the sword that is the word of God, of course. Words such as,“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world… But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ!” Eph 2:1, 4-5. 

So the word reminds me that my worth does not come from my performance. Rather, it comes from the the unsearchable riches of God who loved me in spite of my worthlessness. It’s not that I was worthy that He loved me, but that His loving me makes me worthy.

Where does your sense of worth lie? What do you look at? Your mirror? Your bank account? Your college transcript? Your Facebook “likes?” Your children’s happiness and well-being?

There is one and only one source of joy that is genuine and lasting. I am and you are what God sacrificed to earn. We are given the worth of the life of His infinite Son in Jesus Christ. DO NOT cheapen your worth by comparing yourself to the fleeting and decaying world….

PH