The Purse
By Elizabeth Cole
“But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”
Romans 9:20 (NIV)
By Elizabeth Cole
“But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”
Romans 9:20 (NIV)
During my high school
and college years, I lived in San Diego, just
across the border from Tijuana,
Mexico. Though
less than a two hours’ drive, I felt like I’d entered a completely different
world. Rich smells; bright colors; shops with no names; clamor and dust and
life all rolled together.
One of the biggest differences for me was “the purchasing experience.” Nothing like what I was used to at Fashion Valley Mall, that’s for sure! Most differently, no pricetags. Instead, as we walked around the market, someone would hold out a purse she’d made and call out, “How much?”
I’d stop, take the purse, consider it, and then offer a price…based on what I saw, what its value was to me. And then its creator would come back with her evaluation of the purse…and so the bargaining would begin. And it would conclude at the point that worth was mutually determined, and the creator gave the purse to me, the purchaser.
Funny thing: the purse itself never got a say in the matter. It didn’t get to determine its own beauty or value. Ultimately, its worth was determined by the creator and the purchaser. In fact, it’s absurd to envision the bag joining in the bargaining, pointing out its flaws, highlighting its shortcomings, and rejecting what its creator and its purchaser were deciding. Unimaginable, yes? Or maybe not so much…
I wonder, when did we, the created, decide that we get to determine our own value, our own worth? Or lack of value…or lack of worth? And beyond that…when did we, the purchased, decide that we get to determine our lack of beauty or lack of usefulness? It sure seems a little presumptuous for the created and purchased to self-exalt her negative opinion above that of the Creator/Purchaser. Your Creator/Purchaser has made His valuation extremely clear: You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ.
I wonder what would change in our lives if we settled the issue once and for all. If we authentically embraced that our Creator lovingly “knit us together in our mother’s womb” and our Purchaser lovingly paid the highest price possible to become our Owner…and Master…and Friend. Perhaps we’d find ourselves in a completely different world.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Can you identify a consistent “trigger” that prompts you to exalt a negative opinion of yourself above God’s stated opinion? What could you ask God to help you do about it?
2. Meditate today on the value of the currency God used to purchase you: His own blood.
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 139; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9
One of the biggest differences for me was “the purchasing experience.” Nothing like what I was used to at Fashion Valley Mall, that’s for sure! Most differently, no pricetags. Instead, as we walked around the market, someone would hold out a purse she’d made and call out, “How much?”
I’d stop, take the purse, consider it, and then offer a price…based on what I saw, what its value was to me. And then its creator would come back with her evaluation of the purse…and so the bargaining would begin. And it would conclude at the point that worth was mutually determined, and the creator gave the purse to me, the purchaser.
Funny thing: the purse itself never got a say in the matter. It didn’t get to determine its own beauty or value. Ultimately, its worth was determined by the creator and the purchaser. In fact, it’s absurd to envision the bag joining in the bargaining, pointing out its flaws, highlighting its shortcomings, and rejecting what its creator and its purchaser were deciding. Unimaginable, yes? Or maybe not so much…
I wonder, when did we, the created, decide that we get to determine our own value, our own worth? Or lack of value…or lack of worth? And beyond that…when did we, the purchased, decide that we get to determine our lack of beauty or lack of usefulness? It sure seems a little presumptuous for the created and purchased to self-exalt her negative opinion above that of the Creator/Purchaser. Your Creator/Purchaser has made His valuation extremely clear: You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ.
I wonder what would change in our lives if we settled the issue once and for all. If we authentically embraced that our Creator lovingly “knit us together in our mother’s womb” and our Purchaser lovingly paid the highest price possible to become our Owner…and Master…and Friend. Perhaps we’d find ourselves in a completely different world.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Can you identify a consistent “trigger” that prompts you to exalt a negative opinion of yourself above God’s stated opinion? What could you ask God to help you do about it?
2. Meditate today on the value of the currency God used to purchase you: His own blood.
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 139; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9
Elizabeth is a wife and mother of three grown daughters. She is the Director of Connecting and of We Women at Oakwood Church.
