Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
Every day, we are surrounded by voices – voices from society, family, media, and even our own thoughts – all trying to tell us who we are and what we’re worth. These voices can be loud and persuasive, often shaping how we see ourselves and how we live. But as believers, our true identity is not found in what others say or in how we feel; it is found in what God says about us. The words God has spoken about us carry eternal truth and power. So, the choice to believe, uphold, and actively align our lives with God’s description of us is not merely an act of faith; it is a profound act of honour to the One who spoke it. Will you choose to believe what God says over the roar of every other voice? In this article, I invite you to make the single most life-changing decision you can ever make.
We need to value and honour what God has said about us. This means taking God’s word seriously and recognising its importance. Honouring God’s word is a fundamental aspect of the gospel. In fact, respecting God and His word may be just as crucial for receiving from Him as faith itself. Embracing what God says about us plays a significant role in our society, in our personal lives, and in our relationship with the Lord. John 5:39-44 says: You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
Jesus emphasised that His Father’s testimony was the most significant proof of who He was. Everyone can hear God’s testimony of Jesus through the Scriptures. Moses and all the Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of Jesus. In verse 44, Jesus poses the question, “How can you believe?” He points out that their belief is hindered because they seek honour from one another rather than from the one true and living God. Interestingly, the word “honour” in this scripture is also translated as “glory” in the New Testament, which conveys meanings such as view, opinion, estimate, and dignity.
Jesus derived his sense of self-worth and self-esteem from God, rather than from people. Throughout his life, he faced significant resistance and numerous trials; his journey was not without challenges. Many people did not accept him as the Messiah or prophet, or even recognise the importance of his ministry. As a result, he did not gain honour or dignity from others, but from his relationship with his Father. One intriguing aspect is that Jesus questioned how people could truly believe. The source of our worth, dignity, and value profoundly influences our faith and our ability to follow God’s path for us. Our self-esteem and perception of ourselves must align with what God reveals as his plans for us.
If God is showing us something, and we feel unworthy or too small to embrace it, we will hesitate to step into that promise, leading to self-imposed limitations. It’s essential to allow the Lord to reveal our true worth, helping us to understand who we really are and discover the value within ourselves. This understanding will inspire faith, empowering us to pursue the paths God has laid out for us. Recognising how God honours us and how He views us is crucial. We should never allow the opinions of others to dictate how we see ourselves. Our self-perception should be shaped solely by God’s opinion of us. We cannot seek approval or validation from people; we must focus on what God thinks about us, and let that be the foundation of our self-esteem.
" Your value or sense of worth must not come from other people; it must come from God. "
So, let’s look at Jesus again in Mark chapter six and see how he responded. “Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him” (Mark 6:1-3).
The Bible states that the people were offended at Jesus. When I first read this, I wondered why, considering all the good things they had just said about him. They were astonished by his teaching, the wisdom he imparted, and the mighty miracles he performed. Jesus was blessing them; he was helping and serving them, providing something precious rather than taking from them. He had the right intentions. Jesus returned to his hometown after gaining recognition for his works throughout the region. He didn’t forget where he came from. He expressed a desire to return home to help his own people. His mission was to serve them and be a blessing to those who raised him and the community that shaped him. Despite his good intentions and the blessings he had already shared throughout Israel, the Bible tells us that when he returned, he was not received well. Instead, they were offended by him.
I was wondering why people were offended. They had their own way of viewing Jesus. In their eyes, he was just a carpenter, the carpenter’s son, and the son of Mary. They thought, “We know his family, so how dare he see himself as a prophet or the Messiah? How could he possibly believe he is the Christ? What gives him the audacity to think he could come from this place, walk in purpose and destiny, and fulfil God’s calling on his life? He should be just like one of us.” It was Jesus’ success that offended these people. The fact that the Lord was using Jesus upset them. The Father’s blessing and approval were unwelcome to them. They wanted to pull him back, put him in a box, and say, “No, Jesus, you’ll never be anything more than a carpenter. We know who you are; you’ll never be more than the son of Joseph and Mary.” However, Jesus had to choose to believe what God said about him. He declared, “I do not receive honour or approval from men. The honour and opinion I have of myself come from the Father, not from those who raised me or the people I grew up with.”
How I value myself, or my sense of worth, doesn’t come from other people; it comes from God. Jesus had to choose to embrace what God had said about Him concerning His life, and we must also choose to do the same in our own lives. Often, people may think they know us based on their experiences with us – whether through work or other interactions. They may evaluate and estimate in their own minds and hearts who they think we should be and who they believe we are. They may place us in a specific category within their hearts. However, God tells us that we cannot let ourselves be confined to that perception. Just because that’s how others view us doesn’t mean we should see ourselves that way. Instead, we should align our identity with how we are viewed in the Father’s heart. We can look to Jesus’s response in Mark 6:4-6 for guidance. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith (Mark 6:4-6). So, when people refused to honour Jesus, they limited what they could receive from him. Therefore, honour is as crucial as faith for receiving from God.
