How to calculate your true value (this post includes a ready reckoner)

Is your value higher than you think? Or lower? And can it be both?

Here's part of a self-help email that popped into my Inbox this week:

"Unless we value ourselves enough to say no to certain people and situations, while even explaining why that is, we devalue ourselves. No one will place a greater value on you than you place on yourself."

After tussling with that for a while, I've drawn three conclusions:

One: Going up
The blogger wants me to value myself enough to say No occasionally, rather than agreeing to everything thrown at me. He says my value is higher than I think - but I have to prove it by treating myself accordingly.

But then I compare that to Philippians 2 -
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Philippians 2 v 3-4)

Two: Coming down
Paul wants me to value others above myself - putting their needs above my own. He says their value is higher than mine when it comes to how I treat them, support them, love them.

And then there's Jesus:
"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5 v 7-8)

Three: Beyond price
God has chosen to value me higher than I can imagine - not because of any intrinsic value I bring to him, but because of his immeasurable love. He chose me "before the creation of the world" (Ephesians 1 v 3) and sent his beloved Son to die for me. He says my value is seen in Christ.

The blogger says: "No one will place a greater value on you than you place on yourself." The Lord says: "I did."