For what it’s worth.
I like that phrase. I tend to use it almost as a disclaimer to leave it to the listener to take or leave what I’m about to say. There’s no pressure on them to take it, but I am putting the effort in the words that follows for it to be of as much use to them as possible. Sometimes I’ll say the words and indeed they’ll take them on as something of value and at least bear it in mind. Sometimes it’s evident that the person sees no value in what I’ve said and find something else of more interest. The phrase, however, helps me as well as them. I know I’ve put in the effort to offer something of some worth if they want it – but it is really up to them.
That comes in handy when I consider the Word of God. I think about the great cost it took for it to reach me. The cost of time, the cost of great resources, the cost of lives indeed in a real way, God made it vital to communicate with us through us in the Scripture and then through His Son that we know by His Spirit. That is to say, the cost of the Word is of divine proportions. That might be its cost, but that doesn’t mean I’ll see the worth in it. He has done so much to commmunicate to me for the eternity that its worth, but I can treat it cheaply, or even toy with it and misuse it. I can neglect it and dismiss the great cost at which it comes.
My behaviour, my thoughts and the nature of my conversation reveals a lot of if I truly value the word for what its worth. This is why I’m grateful for the mercy of God when I do treat it glibly. I am grateful that His mercies give me another change to approach the word and see it as a great help for me to prevent me getting in trouble, rather than looking for it to get me out of the trouble I got myself into. By the word I see Jesus revealed and have the measn to engage with who He was and who He is. By the word I am propelled into the issues of the human condition at its worse and its best. I have window into how humans are and how they can be. There are no similar windows available to me with such a perspective. It makes sense to treat it for the great worth that lies in it. It makes a great deal of sense to show gratitude to God for giving me this wonderful word of life by valuing it, meditating on it day and night and applying it to enrich the relationship with the Creator of the universe. It makes sense.
For what it’s worth.
(Photo by Ben White on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 