Our Worthiness

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed as you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

–Mt  5: 10-12

The Lord is great.  He’s highly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable (Ps 145:3).  Many more Scriptural passages in the Bible speak of God’s worthiness to be praised (Ps 18:3; 48:1; 96:4; 1 Chr 16:25).  Russel M. Nelson (b. 1924), a surgeon and religious leader wrote, “The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come.  A desire to serve is a natural outcome of one’s conversion, worthiness, and preparation.”  Nelson realized the importance of God’s work in the missionary field – his glory, honor, for service.

People are credited with worthiness like righteousness by God (2 Thess 1:11; Lk 20:35; Rom 2:29; 2 Cor 10:18).  Brene Brown (b. 1965), an author and research professor explained, “It’s hard to practice compassion when we’re struggling with our authenticity or when our own worthiness is off-balance.”  That’s why it’s necessary to be right in God’s eyes.  For only him can provide us through his grace with the necessary balance to move forward in our lives. 

Being Worthy 

Christians may find us worthy in their eyes if we walk in a manner of the Lord, trying to please him in all respects, bearing good fruit, an increasing in his knowledge (Col 1:10).  That’s how some men and women make decisions to be religious.   David A. Bednar (b. 1952), a religious leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “Ordinary men are given the authority of the priesthood.  Worthiness and willingness – not experience, expertise, or education – are the qualification for priesthood ordination.”

The way people is able to gravitate towards us is based on our behavior.  If it’s positive we tend to draw those who are good.  If it’s negative we attract the bad.  Samantha Power (b. 1970), an Irish-American academic and diplomat warned, “Don’t take for granted the worthiness of your cause will win you allies; bring it down to a scale that people can relate to.”  It isn’t just having people relate to you, but your goal is to reach the right individuals.

Universal Needs

Worthiness calls for a walk worthy of the vocation to which you have been called.  We should do so in all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love (Eph 4:1-2).  Moran Atias (b. 1981), an Israeli-American actress described the needs this way: “There’s always a common attraction to universal needs of love and a feeling of worthiness.”  These concepts begin from childhood.  For it was Polly Berrien Berends (b. 1939), an author who said, “A sense of worthiness is a child’s most important need.”