How Much Are You Worth?

How much are you worth? It seems as though on a yearly basis now, record salaries are being rewarded to professional athletes. Just this past Spring a guy who hasn't even played a down in the NFL was given the biggest rookie contract ever. Pitchers in baseball, before they ever pitch a day in the majors are set for life. I'm not saying that it is wrong or right. I am a bit jealous of them. But, I guess if the owners and general managers of different teams can afford this, then so be it.

I also know that as soon as a person gets Dr. in front of their name or a Ph. D. behind their name their stock goes up. They become more important, even if they finished with the worst grades in their class.

In our world, the popular people are usually those who have some sort of special ability or at least a lot of money. Many people know the name Warren Buffet only because he is the richest man in the world. Just about everyone knows who Tiger Woods is because of his special ability to hit a gold ball well. Just about everyone knows who Paris Hilton is, well I don't know why everyone knows who she is, but I know it is not for good reasons.

What happens when the athlete loses his physical ability? No one but Twins fans remember who was on the 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins. I can guarantee that 15 years from now no one will remember Paris Hilton. When people who seem to be worth a lot in earthly terms die, their worth goes away immediately.

This is not the case in the life of Christians. When Christians die their worth skyrockets. This is because their worth is and always has been found in Jesus. When the Father sent His Son to the earth, He showed how much we are worth to Him. We are worth nothing less than the life of His only Son. We are worth EVERYTHING to God. There is no amount of money, no fame, no power that can compare to how much we are worth to God. He sent His one and only Son, God incarnate, to take our place, the place we deserved, on the cross.

How humbling is that? How much peace does that really give you? The Almighty God, the one that created you, gave you breath, and sustains it thinks enough of you to send His Son to suffer and die for you.

To the world you are only worth what you can do or give. Once your talent goes away you are worthless. Once your fame and fortune is gone it is as if you are gone too. We don't much care what Michael Jordan does on a daily basis. People outside of Illinois and Chicago didn't have a clue who Barrack Obama was two years ago.

I bet there aren't too many people outside of Warrenton who know you either. Jesus does. Jesus knows you. He knows how many individual hairs are on your head. He knows when you wake up and when you go to sleep. He knows your past, present, and future. He literally knows you inside and out. And in spite of all that He still loves you.

I encourage you today to measure your worth, not on what others think of you or even on what you think of yourself, but on the measure that God with which God measures you., His Son. Have peace that on one thinks more of you than God does. Have joy that your worth will never change. And then, as you go about your life in joy and peace, honor God with the honor that He has given you! Have a peace filled day knowing that you are worth everything to God!

Rev. Jeremy Klastermeier
To God All Praise and Glory!

It's vacation time. As you read this article this week I am sitting on a beach, catching a big walleye in a boat, or swinging a golf club on a golf course. I can't wait. I am really looking forward to this vacation.

Does this mean I am taking a vacation from being a Christian? Certainly not. In fact, I am weighing my options for worship on Sunday and am bringing several books along for devotions. I am looking forward to being able to devote some quiet time in a most serene setting, the north woods of Minnesota, to reading and listening to God's Word. I am looking forward to being in God's Word MORE.

A vacation is a good thing. In fact, God commands us to rest. The third commandment is very specific about remembering the Sabbath (rest) day by keeping it holy. Yet, we are not to rest AWAY from God's Word, but instead rest IN God's Word.

God's Word is where we can truly find rest. Yet even I, as a pastor, can forget that from time to time. I can't get over distressed about things going on in the church. I can get frustrated with the sinful things that people say and do. I can get overwhelmed from time to time with the great responsibilities that come with leading a church. All of this stress and heartache usually comes about because I am not, in the words of Martin Luther himself, reading, marking, learning, and inwardly digesting God's Word as much as I need to.

If I look back at the most stressful times in my life and my devotional life, there is a direct correlation between the two. The more stressed and freaked out I am the less I am in God's Word. The more calm, relaxed, and peaceful I am the more I am in God's Word. I am sure you can see this in your own life as well.

This is because in God's Word is where we find true peace, comfort and joy. In God's Word we find the true light of the good news of Jesus Christ. We hear things like, "For God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but everlasting life." And, "He was crucified for our transgressions and raised for our justification." And, "Don't worry... God know what you need." And "For we are saved by grace through faith and this not of ourselves, it is a gift of God not by works so that no one can boast."

I encourage you today to get into God's Word. Find a Bible study or start one of your own. Ask your pastor questions when you don't understand something. Take shelter under God's Word for in it you will find rest for your souls.

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier

To God All Praise and Glory!