God Knows Our True Value

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV

There is nothing like a good safari through an antique store, estate sale, or good old-fashioned garage sale. One person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Jessica Vincent could tattoo that saying on her arm. Vincent was rummaging around a Goodwill store in Virginia and came across a pretty little glass vase with swirling translucent red and seafoam green pattern in perfect condition for $3.99. Vincent is no stranger to thrifting and thought it might be worth $1,000 maybe $2,000 tops. Little did she know that she bought a vase that would eventually bring $100,000 at an art auction.

“For me, it’s like winning the lottery really. It’s just an incredible thing,” she said. “It’s super, super surreal. Even now, I’m still pinching myself.” “While the vase’s beauty was undeniable, she needed the income more than an ornament and described the sale as a “life-changing amount of money.”

“You think about everything like an earthquake, a fire, whatever. Just all of the scenarios go through your head and it’s a lot of responsibility to have such an important and expensive object in your home when you’re not independently wealthy,” she said. “I’m so happy that the piece is also back where it belongs really. It’s in a safe collection where it’s known now.” (Anthony Robledo, USA Today)

Renowned Italian artist Carlo Scarpa invented the technique of applying brush strokes of color to create a painted-like surface during the billowing process. You can’t help but wonder how a valuable vase could end up in a Richmond area Goodwill store. Over the years did this work of art sit on someone’s mantel as a pretty but worthless decoration? Did some little boy give his mother flowers in the vase? Did someone finally clean out the attic and cart off their junk? Whatever the reason, something of value ended up in a Goodwill thrift store.

Life has found a lot of people who somehow ended up with a reduced price. A well-meaning Goodwill employee can look at a glass vase and price it at $3.99 but then along comes an expert who sees the true value of the same glass vase. The difference in the vase’s value is knowing the story of the vase. One values the vase at $3.99 but only one knows the real story of the vase and values it at $100,000. Thankfully God knows the true value of a person and he never gives us a discounted sticker price. Jesus, the master storyteller, tells the real story of the value of a poor woman and her two coins.

Jesus, who was ever observant, watched the spectacle of people coming and going into the temple. Luke tells the story (Luke 21:1-4) as Jesus watches the wealthy, influential members putting in their offerings to the sounds of adoration from the crowd. At about the same time, a poor and disenfranchised woman stealthily moves to the collection box and drops in her meager two coins. She doesn’t make any fanfare about her giving because she doesn’t see any value in her life. Unfortunately, she doesn’t receive any affirmation from the clergy and most definitely no whispers among the crowd about her generosity. Only Jesus sees her true value.

“Sometimes to refute a single sentence it is necessary to tell a life story.” (John Berger)

Jesus made sure the woman’s life story was told. “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”  That day a poor woman heard her real value and left the temple with a different step in her walk. The world had placed a reduced price on her value but not God. Jesus reminded the world of her true value and more importantly, to the woman. Jesus poured grace over the life of this precious soul that day and continues to pour out grace on each of us today.

“I can see why the evaluative world does not “get” grace—it all came clear—and, in turn, why grace cannot, does not, will not, conform to such human standards. You cannot “come up” for grace. You cannot qualify for it, earn it, or do enough paperwork for it. No one can bestow or veto it. You can’t even get it through conformity, diversity, or seniority. It doesn’t fit into a file, it won’t tuck nicely into a page protector. It won’t be laminated or promoted, bought or sold. It is a gift between God and me, and it is always here for the taking.” (Carolyn Weber, holy is the day)

The Goodwill employee correctly valued the vase for a Goodwill store but the art auction house knew the real value of the vase. The same can be said of the temple accountants who correctly valued the gift but didn’t know the full story. Jesus understood the real value of the gift and placed an extravagant amount on the exchange.

We can easily get the wrong value placed on our lives when we go to the wrong appraiser. The art dealer saw the intricate designs of the vase, knew the artist’s work, and how to market the vase for top price. In the same way, the world’s standard will look only at the externals of our lives, and base our value on performance, salary, or some other preconceived ideas.

Jesus sees the extravagant value of our lives today as he looks at us through the lens of grace, love, and redemption. Jesus knew the true value of the woman in the temple. Her value wasn’t based on worldly acquisitions but upon an intimate relationship.

Jesus is the master artist whose work is beyond description.  “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.”  (Psalm 139:13-15 NLT)

Our family was blessed this last week with the birth of our 6^th grandchild, Jakobi David Shanklin. I am thankful for this beautiful, healthy baby boy. All glory to God.

God is great!