I was reading one of my favorite blogs today ("Right Truth") and I saw this picture. The picture on the left should look a little familiar to us, as she was on the cover of "The National Geographic" magazine in 1985. Her name is Sharbat Gula (which very few people knew until recently) and she is an Afgan refugee. Life has changed her and only her eyes seem to remain unchanged. She obviously has had a hard life, but what really bothered me when I read the article is that she was described as being "worn out" at age 30. Question: What do we do with someone who is worn out? Do they have any value once they are worn out, or are they worth less. Here is a passage from the book of Leviticus that should make us all think.
Leviticus 27:1-8 WEB (R)
(1) Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
(2) "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, 'When a man makes a vow, the persons shall be for Yahweh by your valuation.
(3) Your valuation shall be of a male from twenty years old even to sixty years old, even your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
(4) If it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels.
(5) If the person is from five years old even to twenty years old, then your valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels.
(6) If the person is from a month old even to five years old, then your valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver.
(7) If the person is from sixty years old and upward; if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.
(8) But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to the ability of him who vowed shall the priest value him.
Admittedly, this is a problem passage for me! It seems to say some things I don't like; for instance, because I am now 60 I am worth less than I was at 20. Also, I really do not like the valuation for women and children as well. What it really refers to is the ability of the people mentioned to be able to keep their vows. That is the only way it makes sense to me. I have lived quite a while and would like to think I know MORE than I did at 20 (and am therefore more valuable). Consider this passage from the New Testament.
Galatians 3:26-28 Complete Apostles' Bible
(26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
(27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
We all have value, all souls are the same and in Christ Jesus and all are the sons of God. I thought of the following poem and even though it is somewhat long I still wanted to include it!
The Touch of the Master's Hand
It was battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while To waste his time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried, "Who starts the bidding for me?" "One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?" "Two dollars, who makes it three?" "Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No, From the room far back a gray bearded man Came forward and picked up the bow, Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings, He played a melody, pure and sweet As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low, Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?" As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?" "Two thousand, Who makes it three?" "Three thousand once, three thousand twice, Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered, But some of them cried, "We just don't understand." "What changed its' worth?" Swift came the reply. "The Touch of the Masters Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune All battered with bourbon and gin Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, A game and he travels on. He is going once, he is going twice, He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes, And the foolish crowd never can quite understand, The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
Myra Brooks Welch
Every day lived with God is a blessing, but the body will wear out and in the eyes of men we may not be worth much, but "IN CHRIST" we are all equal and worth something; I know this because of the value placed on us by Jesus (his life's blood). Don't value by appearance, but rather by character, for it is the reflection of the soul. Remember, God does not look at the outward appearance, but at the human heart (the character).