I couldn't resist today's title.  I love the True Value Hardware store in Sarver.  I use it to buy supplies for many of my small, around the house projects.  The folks there are helpful and well it just seems like a "true value."  When Jesus wanted to remind us not to worry, He told us of OUR true value:  ²⁶Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? ²⁷Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

Aren't you far more valuable to God than they are (the birds, that is!)?  Jesus was not confused about whether any of God's creatures have more inherent value than others.  Humans DO!  We have true value, because God gave it to us at creation.  Not that dogs, cats, chipmunks, etc... don't have any value.  They do.  It's just that none of them were created in God's image.  None of them were given direct commands from God at creation.  Read Genesis 1:26-2:25 and you'll see that we are TRULY VALUABLE to God!

How does that keep us from worrying?  How does that give us hope when life is hard?  It keeps us from worrying and gives us hope by reminding us if God cares for the lesser creatures in His creation, He will most certainly care for us! 

Nancy has always liked having bird feeders at our homes.  The other day we stopped at Bakerstown feed and picked up two different bags -- LARGE bags -- of bird seed for our bird feeders.  I thought of today's Scripture­--"God" cares for the birds, and sometimes He uses us to do it!  The birds that come to our back yard certainly don't have to plant or harvest or store into barns, because we buy their food, store it on our garage and serve it to them in convenient feeders!  Wow!  That's service.

Don't be feeling bad if you're reading this, because God takes even better care of us.  He gives us gifts, skills and abilities so we can provide for our needs.  Sometimes He provides for us miraculously.  He gives us the ability to care for others -- humans and lower creatures, and then uses us to care for one another and them.  It's all part of the Master's plan we find in Genesis 1 & 2.  Even though we messed up the plan (See Genesis 3), God didn't give up on us.  He loves us so much, and is so concerned about us, He VALUES us so much that Jesus came to live, die, rise again and send the Holy Spirit to us!  Why worry?  The key is to remember our true value--each of us is worth ONE JESUS!  Jesus died for you and for me and for everyone in the world, but He would have died even if only you or I needed it.  Stop and think about that for a moment.  When we recognize our true value, and remember God's watchful care in our lives, worry fades quickly into the background. 

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for creating us with true value!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so when the world tries to beat us down, we'll remember that You care so much for us that You sent Jesus to die for us, and live with confidence instead of worry, in Jesus' name.  Amen.