We are so accustomed to evaluating people, including ourselves, by external characteristics. To determine value, we count how someone rates on a list like this:

• Money: Rich is better than poor.
• Looks: Beautiful (or handsome) is better than ugly.
• Style: Designer clothes are better than hand-me-downs.
• Talent: Outstanding athlete is better than klutz.
• Artistic ability: Award-winning is better than un-talented.
• Politics: Leaders are better than commoners.
• Influence: More social-media followers is better than no followers.
• Intelligence: Brilliant is better than stupid.
• Education: PhD is better than high-school dropout.

The Bible teaches that God couldn’t care less about those characteristics (1 Samuel 16:7b). That shouldn’t be surprising, considering that all of them are gifts from Him to start with. Those traits, and the capacity to use and develop them, aren’t something I can cause in myself; I have no more control over my intelligence or artistic ability than I do over my height or the color of my eyes. ¹

Instead, my value to God depends on Him; I’m worth exactly whatever He says I’m worth. And what He says is that He created me for a purpose, and has had plans for me since before I was born (Psalm 139:13-16). What He says is that I am worth the life of His Son, who is also God Himself! ² What’s more, He says that is true of everyone:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. … But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6, 8

That tells me that every single person who has ever lived is infinitely valuable. Each must be treated with great respect, as someone precious to God. God specially created each of them; God loves each of them; and Jesus died for each of them.

• You: God created you; God loves you; Jesus died for you.
• Me: God created me; God loves me; Jesus died for me.
• My spouse, kids, and parents: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• Billy Graham and Mother Teresa: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The guy who cut me off in traffic: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The incompetent store clerk: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The rude customer: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The boss who drives me crazy: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The employee who returns the favor: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The person whose politics are the same as mine: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The person whose politics are the opposite of mine: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• Someone who looks and talks just like me: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• Someone who looks or talks very different than me: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The old man in a coma in a nursing home: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The baby conceived yesterday: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The couple in a traditional one-man/one-woman marriage: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• Those whose sexuality and relationship expression are contrary to the Bible: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• Atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Mormons, Muslims: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• Victims: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• Oppressors: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The richest gazillion-aire: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.
• The poorest child in an African slum: God created them; God loves them; Jesus died for them.

Have I made my point yet? However long I make the list, no matter who I put on it, all are equally, infinitely, valuable to God. ** It doesn’t matter how the good image of God expresses itself in a person (Genesis 1:26-27); it doesn’t matter how their sinful rebellion expresses itself (Psalm 14:2-3). There is not one person He loves more than another; there is not one person He loves less than another. There is nothing anyone can do to make Him love them any more; there is nothing they can do to make Him love them any less.

What would change in the world if we truly believed that, and acted accordingly? Wanna find out?

** That doesn’t keep any of us from also being individually responsible to God for the choices we make, though. That’s a separate article.

It also doesn’t keep any of us (actually all of us) from being at some point plain old wrong about something. Disagreeing politely with someone and saying that you believe they are wrong does not negate their value. It respects them by engaging in two-way conversation, giving them a chance to explain their position, and allowing both parties to make their own choices.

1. https://christiantellmewhy.info/not-me-but-god/
2. The concept of “Trinity”: Father, Son, and Spirit as three Persons in one God, is material for a separate article.