Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. How has this article’s definition of your worth affected your view of your own self-worth as a Catholic man?
2. In Ephesians 1:3-14, what characteristics are true of all Christians? How would more deeply understanding these truths affect your sense of self-worth?
3. Why is it a trap to believe that our worth is wrapped up solely in our performance and what others think of us?
4. Memorize the statement: “I have great worth apart from my performance because Christ gave his life for me, and therefore, imparted great value to me. In Christ, I am deeply loved, fully pleasing, totally forgiven, accepted, and complete.” Repeat this statement each day (or several times a day) for the next two or three weeks. If you are in a men’s group, share the fruits of doing this at your next meeting.
5. How can more deeply understanding the truths of who you are in Christ, positively reinforce your view of yourself, your relationship with God, and your relationship with others?
The article below has been adapted from the January 19, 2006 meditation from the January 2006 issue of The Word Among Us magazine. (Used with permission.) The article emphasizes the importance of basing our self-worth as Catholic men on the truth of who we are as children of God. As you read and reflect on the article, ask the Lord to begin to positively reinforce your view of your self-worth based on God’s truth and his view of you, and not on Satan’s lies (in John 8:44, Jesus called Satan “the father of lies”).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)
How do you measure your worth?
By the size of your home or the car you drive? Perhaps by the amount of money you’ve earned, saved, or spent? Is it by your education, position at work, or social prominence? Or is it by the opinions and approvals of others. Or is it by your children’s success in the world? Or by good deeds you’ve done, your knowledge, or the recognition you receive from others? While these things may measure success and accomplishments, none of them measures worth at its deepest level. As far as God is concerned, our worth is based solely upon the miraculous fact that each of us has been created in the image and likeness of his beloved Son.
Just think: Before we were born, God loved us (Psalm 139:13-16). He created us in his own image and likeness, and made us his children (Genesis 1:26-27). He breathed the very breath of his life into us (2:7) and is delighted with us (1:31). Our worth is so great that when we sinned and fell, he sent his own Son to redeem us (John 3:16-17; Ephesians 1:7). He poured out his Holy Spirit in our hearts so that we could be with him always (Romans 5:5-8).
What is the true measure of my worth!
In his book, Search for Significance, Robert McGee says that we should memorize the following:
I have great worth apart from my performance because Christ gave his life for me, and therefore, imparted great value to me. In Christ, I am deeply loved, fully pleasing, totally forgiven, accepted, and complete.
Do you believe this? Is it enough for you? Basing our worth on anything else leaves us open to the trap (and Satan’s lies) that our worth is wrapped up in our performance and what others think of us.
We are weakened when we measure our worth in any other way but the truth: God loves me. The immortal, eternal, all-powerful God of the universe chose to create me because he loves me. He chose us in Christ “before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4).
Accept the truth today.
In your times of prayer, declare these truths and thank God for loving you. You can receive his love today by simply stating your faith in him and then resting quietly in his presence, asking him to fill you up with his love. Then, as you begin to experience more of him, you will find yourself praising him and obeying him throughout your day. There’s nothing like knowing what great worth we have as God’s own delight!
“Father, thank you for creating me, loving me, and forgiving me in your Son, Jesus Christ. You know everything about me, and yet you love me anyway and take great delight in me. Help me today to understand the great worth I have in Jesus. Help me to receive more of your love, to learn it in a new and deeper way, and to let it flow out to others.”
(Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at P.O. Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to use material from their magazine.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
