Measuring Value
being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts Hebrews 11:38
Was Not Worthy – What are your measurements of success? Don’t brush this aside as though they are obvious. Remember that we often say what we believe but we do what we value. And when it comes to measuring what really matters, it is behavior that tells the story.
The world’s system presses everyone into conformity to its demands. It takes incredible, spirit-filled resistance not to succumb. In fact, according to the author of Hebrews, it takes a life that the world considers wasted, useless and eminently unsuccessful.
Destitute, afflicted and ill-treated are the adjectives used to describe a life that does not subscribe to the world’s measuring standards. The world wants affluence, status, commendation, recognition and power. But God says that those who follow Him in spite of all of the pressure are worth far more than the world even recognizes. They are so special to God that He does not consider them worthy of the world. The phrase in Greek is ouk en axios (not of worth). Axios is important. It’s the word for measuring the intrinsic value of something, like measuring the weight of gold on a balance scale. It is contrasted to timios, a word that describes something that has attributed value, like a dollar bill. Axios is value independent of the external circumstances. Timios is value that depends of something else. Gold has intrinsic value in itself. A dollar, however, is only worth what it represents, a debt on the U S economy.
God says that your suffering for Him has intrinsic value far beyond anything this world acknowledges. God’s measuring system is completely different than the world’s. In fact, there is virtually no comparison. If you pursue those things that God counts as valuable, you are more than likely to encounter lots of trouble in this world. You will attract skepticism, ridicule and rejection. Why? Because the world’s system thinks you’re worthless.
But here’s the killer. Wherever we pursue measurements that are derived from the world’s system, we are walking away from the Kingdom. The friendlier the world treats you, the more likely it is that you are adapting to the enemy’s values. So, where are you looking for your success measures? How close are you to peace with the world instead of peace with God while in the world?
