Read
Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:31
Reflect
A story is told about a young man named Jim who went in search of work one summer and was hired by a prosperous Ohio farmer named Worthy Taylor. The farmer never knew much about the boy except his first name and that he was a hard worker. Throughout the summer, Jim made himself useful with such tasks as cutting firewood, milking the cows and whatever else was asked of him. He took his meals in the family’s kitchen, and he slept in the barn.
By the end of the summer, something Mr. Taylor hadn’t expected also happened — Jim and the farmer’s daughter had fallen in love. Hat in hand, Jim asked for Mr. Taylor’s blessing for their marriage, but the man refused. After all, Jim was just a farmhand with no money and no real prospects of amounting to much in life.
Disheartened, Jim packed up his few belongings and left the farm. More than 30 years passed, and Mr. Taylor was one day pulling down hay from the loft in his barn. Carved into one of the rafters was Jim’s full name — James A. Garfield, who by then had been elected the 20th President of the United States. During those three decades, Jim had graduated near the top of his college class, served as the president of Hiram College, served as a major general for the Union army during the Civil War and been elected to Congress eight times before being elected President.
The farmer who might have been the father-in-law of the President of the United States simply failed to recognize the real value of young James Garfield.
Regardless of how the world perceives your value, we serve a Lord who knows exactly what you’re worth. In fact, He thought we were of enough value to sacrifice His life to give us the opportunity at an eternity with Him. On top of that, He knows all of our flaws and sees the ability for us to grow and serve Him. The author of today’s scripture — Matthew — might also have been considered by many as someone with no prospects in God’s kingdom. But Jesus saw more and called him to be a disciple, and Matthew eventually became a founder of the early church. You may have humble beginnings and you might not look like much to the world, but our Lord can see through that to how you will fit perfectly within his Kingdom.
Reflection copyright © 2022 Doug DeBolt and Charles Fulton.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
