Matthew 10:31 – “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  NKJV

Looking at this passage, I immediately think about our calculated worth to God.  If you only look at the comparison to a small bird, I’m not sure that would make anyone feel worth very much.  How many are many in this passage?  If two sparrows are sold for a small amount, that would indicate their abundance and low esteemed value to man.  However, if we read the paragraph, I believe we can see something in the heart of God as to the value of His creation to Him.

Jesus was teaching us to give our witness publicly to whomever and wherever we could.  He instructed those listening not to consider the public opposition and the vileness of the Pharisees who might seek to silence them with death.  He contrasted what man could do to us and what God could do to the disobedient. 

Here, He inserts His comments on the sparrows, which almost seems out of place, but is it?  He says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.”  Wow! God is concerned about even the tiny birds in that region were so plenteous that they were virtual nuisances. 

In other places, in Scripture, we read that God cares for the grass of the field, the flowers that grow by the wayside, the cattle of the hills, and all creation.  Jesus emphasizes that by saying, “But the very hairs of your head or all numbered.”  That is nothing short of amazing!  God cares enough about us and is so detailed in His attention to us that He has numbered the hairs of our head, and when one falls out, He says, “There goes hair number 714.”  (I say that jokingly but the point is that He knows EVERY DETAIL of our lives.)

Here in our text verse, our Lord says. “Do not fear….”  The message is that God is so concerned and cares for His creation that He knows when the sparrow falls and has numbered the very hairs of our heads.  Therefore, we should not fear because man can only kill our bodies but cannot touch our souls.  He emphasizes our value to God and the instruction to be at peace and never let anyone determine our destiny or message by saying, “…you are more valuable than many sparrows.” 

If I calculated my worth based on the elements that make up my physical body, I would be depressed, for if you combined all the elements in the human body, it would be worth less than $2,000.  However, were you to harvest the various body parts and sell them, they could be worth millions. I am concerned that this market will become a Last Days Market where people are systematically selected to harvest their organs for commerce. 

Whether we calculate the worth of our bodies by the chemical components and elements or based on the Black-Market Value of our organs, that could never compare to the value God has placed on us.  He looks at far more than the value of the ‘dust of the earth’ that we are and to which we will return.  He looks at our Eternal Souls and the fact that we are Eternal Spirits housed in a physical body. 

What is our calculated worth to God?  The best way that I can identify our worth to God is the Cross!  God placed a valuation on each of us as worth the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.  He values us enough that “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16). 

Jesus values us enough that He was willing to leave His former estate in Glory, come to earth born of a woman, live among us as man and for man, suffer the shame and reproach of the Cross, and be killed so that we could be Forgiven and Live Eternally!  That is our Calculated Worth to God, and I challenge you to stop discounting your worth and never again say, “I am a nobody.  I am worthless. I am of no value.”  

That attitude is an insult to God, and when you read that you are worth more than many sparrows, do not view that as God deeming you unimportant and of little value but that He considers you so valued that He has numbered the hairs of your head.  My fellow believer, you are worth the Blood of Jesus to God, making you priceless.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!