Five Ways to Find Your Value

Sometimes we spend too much time looking outside ourselves for someone to tell us what we’re worth. But discovering your value begins with understanding who God created you to be, what comes naturally to you, and what problems you were created to help solve.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Ephesians 2:10

1. Discover What Comes Naturally to You

Pay attention to what you’ve naturally been drawn toward throughout your life.

For me, I’ve always loved helping people even as a boy. Nobody had to teach me to care about people. I wanted to help. I wanted to see people doing better. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that wasn’t just something I did. It was revealing something about who I am.

I’m a servant leader, and I love it.

Sometimes I can’t even go to sleep at night because I’m thinking about people praying for them, thinking about their situations, and trying to figure out how we can solve a problem.

That’s when I realized: serving people and solving problems are part of my value.

Jesus said:

“Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister.” Mark 10:43

2. Identify the Problems You Can Solve

One of the greatest ways to discover your value is to ask:

What problems can I help solve?

People often look for opportunities while overlooking problems. But many opportunities are hidden inside problems.

A business solves a problem.
A ministry solves problems.
Leadership solves problems.
Technology solves problems.
Relationships can help solve problems.

Don’t spend your whole life running from problems. Some problems are invitations for your gift to show up.

Joseph is a great biblical example. Pharaoh had a problem that nobody around him could solve. Joseph didn’t have money, political influence, or an important title. In fact, he was coming out of prison.

But Joseph had wisdom that could solve a problem.

He interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and developed a strategy that would prepare Egypt for seven years of famine.

The problem revealed Joseph’s value.

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art.” Genesis 41:39

Joseph went from the prison to leadership because what was inside him became valuable when a problem appeared.

3. Study Your Experiences

Your experiences have taught you things.

Your successes taught you.
Your failures taught you.
Your pain taught you.
Your relationships taught you.
Your mistakes taught you.

Don’t waste your experiences.

Sometimes the thing you survived becomes the wisdom you use to help somebody else survive.

“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble.” 2 Corinthians 1:4

4. Pay Attention to What People Come to You For

What do people consistently call you about?

What questions do they ask you?

What situations cause people to say, “I need to talk to you”?

Those patterns can reveal something about your value.

Sometimes everybody else recognizes your gift before you recognize it yourself because what is extraordinary to them feels normal to you.

5. Develop What You Already Carry

Discovery isn’t enough.

Develop your value.

Read. Study. Pray. Listen. Practice. Build relationships. Learn from people who know more than you. Allow yourself to be corrected. Keep growing.

Paul told Timothy:

“Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee.” 2 Timothy 1:6

God can give you the gift, but you still have a responsibility to develop what you’ve been given.

Your Value Is Bigger Than Money

Never confuse value with money.

Your worth as a human being doesn’t increase because your bank account increases.

But when you discover your gifts, develop your abilities, understand people, and learn how to solve meaningful problems, you increase your capacity to create value in the world.

That’s what I’ve discovered about myself.

I love people.
I love serving people.
I love praying for people.
I love solving problems.

And the older I get, the more I understand:

Sometimes your greatest value has been showing itself your entire life. You just didn’t have the language for it yet.

Pastor J