Danny Fourie

“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  Luke 19:5

Someone tells the story of how his uncle years ago always rewarded him for a good school report. For 60 percent he received five rand, for 70 percent ten rand and for 80 percent fifteen rand. He was happy to usually get 80 percent. But once he could not achieve that. He thought, well, there goes my fifteen rand. But his uncle said, “Because you have to know that you still have a worth without achieving 80 percent, I am giving you the fifteen rand.”

This incident tells us how God feels about us. Who we are, how we perform or not perform – in the eyes of God we are dear to him.

One hears of parents who reacts negatively to their children's less good reports. “You will get nowhere! Can’t you do anything right?” Unfortunately similar negative statements are also exchanged between parents and couples. When people get bombarded with such negative comments, they will eventually think and accept that they are good for nothing. Recipients of these criticisms experience rejection and a worthlessness. It brings pain.

Such experiences can stay with you throughout your life and the result is that you believe things about yourself that is completely untrue – a belief that you have little worth.

Zacchaeus also thought he was of no worth. He hides in a tree behind the leaves. But Jesus shows that he needed Zacchaeus. It is possible that you too does not believe it – but Jesus needs you.

You too have gifts and talents. Use it. It will do your sense of self worth good. Someone said that if you do not use your gifts and talents, you would look like a miser who stacks his money away. In that way you deprive yourself and others.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that you need me too, that you consider me of worth. Help me today to believe that. Amen