“The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory …” (1 Samuel 2:7,8)
Some of the most wicked men in history, for a time, enjoyed the validation of the society they lived in. The most righteous Man who ever lived was despised and rejected of men. Our value is not determined by what people think of us, whether that be little or much. The only true standard of value is our value before God. What does He think of us? Are we a vessel of honor in His house? Or will we one day stand before Him and discover that He deemed our works as wood, hay, and stubble?
Don’t be fooled by men’s applause. Don’t be depressed by their criticism. Live to please God. Learn what He would have you to do with your time here on earth. Give yourself to what He has put in your hand to do, and do it with all your might, for Him and His “Well done!” and not for the praise of men.
God loves us at our worst. He values our lives, not because they have been beautiful and praiseworthy in His eyes, but because He knows what He can make of us. He takes poor beggars living in dunghills and raises them to be kings who share His throne. And to those who think they’re something without Him, who let human beings determine their worth, He has appointed a day when they will see themselves as they really have been. Live in light of that soon coming day when God will validate those who are His treasure.