The Love That Defines Your Value

Your worth isn’t determined by mistakes or others’ opinions — God defines your value. Through stories like the Prodigal Son, understand that God’s love and grace give you infinite worth. Stop letting the world define you and embrace the truth: You are worth dying for.

Michael Wilson

4/7/20253 min read

You Don’t Set Your Value — God Does

The value of something isn’t determined by the thing itself. It’s set by two people: the buyer and the seller. The buyer usually has more influence because they’re the one deciding if the item is worth the cost.

But here’s the key point:
The item never sets its own value.
It can’t be offended by the price tag. It doesn’t argue or protest. It doesn’t have a say in how much it’s worth. Someone else decides.

What Does That Have to Do With You?

We often act like we get to determine our own value — or worse, we let other people do it for us. We look at our mistakes, compare ourselves to others, or let hurtful words define who we are. And before we know it, we’re living like we’re worthless.

But we’re not objects. We’re not junk.
We are God’s creation — and only the Creator has the right to assign value to what He made.

God Says You’re Worth Everything

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
Psalm 8:5 says that God “crowned man with glory and honor.”

These aren’t just poetic verses — they are declarations of your worth.
God paid the highest price imaginable for you: the life of His Son. That’s not something you earn. That’s what grace looks like.

A Parent’s Love Isn’t Based on Performance

Think of a parent waiting for their child to be born. That baby hasn’t done anything yet — hasn’t contributed, hasn’t proven themselves — and yet, the parents are already in love. That child has value not because of what they do, but because of who they are.

Even if that child grows up and makes poor decisions, the love doesn’t disappear.
The value doesn’t go away.
The parent would still do anything to save that child — not because the child is perfect, but because they belong to them.

Why?
Because the child doesn’t set their value. The parents do.

The Prodigal Son Got It Wrong — But the Father Got It Right

In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of a son who blew it. He ran away from home, wasted his inheritance, and hit rock bottom. When he finally came back, he planned to tell his father, “I’m not worthy. Just make me a servant.”

He had decided his value was gone.

But the father ran to meet him. He didn’t lecture. He didn’t shame him. He didn’t even let the son finish his apology. Instead, he threw a robe on him, gave him a ring, and called for a celebration.

Why? Because the father never stopped seeing him as a son.

His mistakes didn’t change his value — and yours don’t either.

Stop Devaluing What God Treasures

If you’ve been coming to God and saying things like,
“I’m such a failure.”
“I’m not worthy.”
“I’ve messed up too much.”

Please, stop.

Instead, start thanking Him:
“Thank You that I have value.”
“Thank You that I’m loved.”
“Thank You that You see worth in me even when I don’t.”

You don’t set your value.
Other people don’t set your value.
God does. And He says you are worth dying for.

That, my friends, is amazing grace.

Take a Moment Today…

Stop and ask yourself: Whose voice have I been listening to when it comes to my value?

Have you believed lies that you’re not enough? That you’re too broken? That you’ve gone too far?

Today, choose to silence those voices and agree with what God says about you. Open your Bible. Meditate on John 3:16 or Luke 15. Speak truth over yourself — even if it feels hard to believe at first.

👉 Write down three things God says are true about you.
👉 Pray and thank Him for valuing you beyond measure.
👉 Encourage someone else today who might be feeling the same way.

You are not worthless.
You are not forgotten.
You are not your past.

You are loved. You are valued. And you belong to your Father.

If this message spoke to you, or if you’re struggling to believe it’s true for you — please don’t stay silent. I’d love to talk with you, pray with you, or just listen. You’re not alone.
📩 Reach out — seriously. Message me anytime.