How Much Are You Worth?

Exodus 30: 11-15

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted.  Then no plague will come on them when you number them.  Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel...This half shekel is an offering to the Lord.  All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the Lord.  The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives." 

I read this several weeks ago during my "The Bible in 90 Days" reading, and it's been on my mind since then.  It's funny how a person can read a verse of Scripture over and over and learn something or notice something new every time.  As I was reading the above verses and thinking about the offering that the Israelites had to make to the Lord to atone for their lives, I thought about something for the first time. 

It had never really occurred to me before the reason why God required everyone, whether rich or poor, to pay the same amount of money as each one was counted during the census.  In the past when I read these verses or similar verses, it always seemed unfair to me that God required the same amount of money from poor people as He did from rich people.   I know that God is always fair, but I just couldn't quite figure out how He was being fair this time.

Then I realized why God required the same amount of money from everyone.  Well, at least I think this is why.  He was simply letting the Israelites know that they were all of equal importance and value to Him--no matter whether they were rich or poor or the same as everyone else or different in some way or whatever.  Those of you reading this may have realized that before, but this was a new revelation for me! 

Then I began to think about the fact that God really does value each of us equally whether we are stay-at-home moms, working moms, professionals, or whatever else our jobs or titles might be.  He really does value each of us equally whether we live in a big fancy house or a tiny little apartment.  He really does value each of us equally whether we are evangelists who reach hundreds or thousands or millions of people with God's Word, or whether we simply try to live our lives the best way we can and be a witness to our own children and husbands each day. 

Wow!!  That just amazed me when I really stopped to think about how much God values me personally.  The same is true of you, too.  God values you just as you are.  It's so awesome that God loves us and is willing to forgive us of our sins no matter what if we just love Him and ask Him to be our Savior and to forgive us. 

I have said before that making the time to do my Bible reading every day is getting easier, but it's still something I have to make a conscious effort to do each day.  It is worth it, though!  Whether I'm reading something I've read several times in the past or reading something "brand new" to me, I seem to learn something new every day--something that I've never really noticed or thought about before.  If you can't join me for The Bible in 90 Days challenge, I hope you will at least join me in reading your Bible each day--even if you just read a few verses.  I think you will find that it's well worth your time.  I'd love to hear from you if you are reading along already or if you decide to join in!