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Measuring Worth - Collin De Villiers
Feb 09, 2010
One of my favorite worship songs coins the phrase: “You are worthy, You are worthy!” Worth is a very subjective concept it seems to me. Worth is like beauty, in the eye of the beholder. I did some reading on the subject and this is what the father of economics, Adam Smith came up with in 1776 in the book “The wealth of the Nations”:
“The real price of every thing, what every thing really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it. What everything is really worth to the man who has acquired it, and who wants to dispose of it or exchange it for something else, is the toil and trouble which it can save to himself, and which it can impose upon other people...”
Not shedding any new light on the subject of worth is it? But the concept holds true for us living in the 21st century. Ultimately we mortgage houses for 20 to 30 years, depending on how much toil and trouble is needed to cover the capital and the interest. We pay of cars in 5 years because it gives immense pleasure to look to your left at the traffic light and say to the motorist: “Jip, she’s mine!”
But what caused me much thinking and contemplation was the magnificent portion of scripture in Revelations 4, written by John the beloved disciple, trying his utmost to describe the vision of the throne in heaven. He describes the open door of heaven, with a throne and someone seated on the throne. The one who was seated on the throne had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
Around this big throne were 24 other thrones with elders on them. Around this throne of God were the four living creatures, one like a lion, one like an ox, one like an eagle in flight and one with the face of a man. Day and night the four living creatures continuously say: ”Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Now comes the part that intrigues me, when they proclaim the Excellencies of the one on the throne, the 24 elders would stand up from their thrones, fall down and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say:
WORTHY ARE YOU, OUR LORD AND GOD!
If we look at scripture we will see that crowns are a symbol of inheritance and rewards. The elders did not lift a finger to get into the open door of heaven, but they sure did good works of service to receive the crowns that used to be on their heads. Now I had the privilege to go and see the crown jewels in the Tower of London. What do you think it is worth? According to Adam Smith it came at great toil and trouble to many other nations in the Common Wealth to bestow the British Monarchy with such splendor and grandeur.
I know the Crown Jewels’ worth cannot be measured in this life, but compared to the golden crowns of the elders seated in heaven, it must be tuck shop money. God rightly rewarding them for their faith, their sacrificial living, their courage, and ultimately losing their lives, and yet they do not quibble for a second to take those crowns and cast them before the feet of the Worthy One. The only conclusion I could come to:
JESUS IS WORTH IT ALL!
