You Are Important
When Jesus taught his disciples not to worry about life, food or raiment, he constantly reaffirmed such truths on the basis that God can provide for their needs (Mt. 6:24-33). But there is an underlying implication in each point he makes which silently cries out — YOU ARE IMPORTANT! Notice: If God cares for each of the birds of the heavens; if he feeds them and one does not fall to the ground without His notice, are you not MORE IMPORTANT than the birds? Again: Are you not MORE IMPORTANT than the lilies of the field which, though transitory, are clothed in such beauty and splendor that they surpass Solomons glory?
However, people have problems of feeling unimportant. For instance, a boy who is jilted by his girlfriend can reach such a low that he feels completely valueless. He decides life is not worth living, takes a knife and slashes his wrists. He, then, makes a desperate telephone call and his girlfriend rushes him to the hospital. You see, he really did not want to die — he wanted to feel important. But there is no need to take such a drastic chance — the line could be busy.
On some occasions children do some things which are socially unacceptable in order to be noticed by other human beings. This reinstates their feelings of importance. Consider the little boy who, because he was not allowed to interrupt adults, stood in the background until he got to feeling desperate, so he walked up and kicked the preacher in the shins. He got plenty of attention then. Others will use gutter expletives or join a radical group because they are recognized and made to feel like somebody. And someone else might compensate for incompetence by bragging about his prowess.
YOU ARE IMPORTANT! I am fearfully and wonderfully made... the Psalmist said (Psa. 139:14). When God formed the first man and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, man was Gods special creation in Gods image (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7), but so are you — each of you. Elihu said to Job, I also am formed out of the clay, (Job 33:6). Each of you is an individual made in the image of God. You are of great value to your maker.
Because you are made in Gods image, you are also important to yourself. Jesus said, For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what shall a man be profited if he shall gain the whole world and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? (Mt. 16:25-26). There is nothing so valuable as your soul, hence, the utmost effort should be given to its eternal salvation.
But you are also important to me, For I seek not yours, but you... (2 Cor. 12:14). I will, therefore, gladly spend and be spent to help you. Do not ever believe that no one cares what happens to you or that you. are worthless and life is not worth living. You are a unique individual — there is no one else just like you — and you are priceless to God, to yourself and to me. —verett