CORINTH

-Sermon Notes-

September 14, 2025

         

“Intrinsic Value”

(Psalm 14, Luke 15:1-10)

     If your house was on fire and you could only rescue one item, what would it be?  Many people would grab a photo album or some sort of family heirloom, not because the item has monetary value, but because it has intrinsic value. To have intrinsic value to is to have value which is not readily seen or understood.  For example, a photo album of your children wouldn’t fetch much of a price at an auction, but it has very high value to you personally.

     Today’s reading from Psalm 14 was likely written by David in the 6th century during the Babylonian exile.  In these words (written to the music director of the temple) David compares the folly in valuing “earthly” things, and what that leads to (ruin) compared to that which is of genuine value (faithful relationship with God.)  A worldly description of value differs greatly from what is of value in God’s eyes.

     Jesus’ parables about the lost sheep and coin come as a response to criticism Jesus received from the religious authorities of the day (Pharisees.)  They wondered aloud why Jesus was hanging around people they deemed “sinners.”  In response to their criticism, Jesus told the stories of a lost sheep and a lost coin. The one sheep and the one coin certainly didn’t have much value according to the world’s standards, but to the owner-they were extremely valuable, and there was much celebrating when they were found.

     Fair to say we live in a world that often places little value on us because we don’t look like the people on magazine covers and because we don’t hold prestigious positions or have great wealth and possessions.  When we use the world’s standard as a measuring stick, we will usually fall short of what is deemed valuable.  Yet, Jesus offers a different measuring stick with his parables this morning.  We are of the highest, intrinsic value to God.

     I remind you of words we often speak of and are familiar with; I feel too often some of these words are glossed over.  When an expert of the law asked Jesus what the most important commandment was, in the midst of Jesus’ reply were the words “love your neighbor as yourself.”  We tend to gloss over the loving yourself part, because sometimes it is actually easier to love your neighbor.  We may not feel as if we are worth loving or caring for.  But time and again, Jesus reminds us of our high, intrinsic value to God.  God loves us, treasures us, and rejoices with our presence, just as the shepherd and woman who lost her coin celebrated when they were reunited with what was precious to them.

     May we, like the psalmist David, rejoice with the understanding that God is with us in all circumstances because he places the highest intrinsic value on us.  Indeed, that is something worth celebrating!