You are valuable, but are you LIVING THAT VALUE?  I was walking down the street yesterday after a meeting in Princeton, and there it was nestled into the crack in the pavement, a poor, lonely, useless penny.  Little did this penny know that one of my strengths in the strengths finder is MAXIMIZER.  I was prepared to pull him out of the destiny of doom of being kicked down the street and back on track to his purpose in the monetary system.  Heck, I even saw a person watch me and snicker, because picking up a penny to the average person seems rather futile.  So, being taught by my grandfather well, because of the countless walks we went on as a kid together, I leaned over and picked it up.  CHa-CHing!  I remember he had a box for all his change he picked up.  He taught me every penny has #VALUE.

Just because you aren’t being used doesn’t mean you don’t have #value. 

 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?”       Luke 15:8

You Live your value when you live the #values Jesus laid out for you.  Everyone and every life has value.  You matter to God.  This is perhaps the biggest truth our church can leverage in order to reach our community with the love of Jesus and fulfill the great commission.  Me picking up pennies really isn’t about pennies, it’s about taking what other people disregard and putting it to use.  It’s a reminder, this is what the church is all about.

3 Things I Learn from Picking Up Pennies

1.  People Are Valuable – 

Every coin has value.  You don’t have to agree with me, and I know about monetary inflation, but every penny counts, just like every life counts. Insignificant people were the very ones Jesus came to love.  Pennies have value, people have value, put them to use.   Principle: Every life has value

2.  Look For That Value – 

Call me quirky, but picking up coins is something I have done for YEARS.  When I walk I typically look down.  I even have a habit of opening my door at drive through windows and looking down to see if there are any coins on the ground.  (I know I am sick)   Principle: Be disciplined in looking for value, you will find it in unexpected places.

3.  Put Things Back To Work For Their Original Purpose –

This simply means back to the reason they were created for.  It’s obvious.  Too many people feel they have lost their value and are getting trampled on, kicked down the road.  This is probably because they don’t see themselves as valuable and no one has stopped to help them get back to their purpose.  Principle: Take time to help others.

So next time you see a penny, remember your value.  IF you see someone struggling to find their’s, pick them up and help them be put back to good use.

Josh

This Sunday at 217church – “LIVE YOUR VALUES”

Join us at 217church, a multi-site, contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church is a family with small groups in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that meets Sundays in the Hamilton AMC24 Theater 10:00am and Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ at 11:00.  Our new Robbinsville/East Windsor Campus meets every Sunday.  If you are looking for a church in East Windsor NJ, Lawrenceville NJ, Ewing NJ, Robbinsville NJ, Hightstown NJ, Hamilton NJ, Mercer County, Middlesex County or Bucks County, PA, we would love to have you join us.  Don’t miss our weekend services. Visit www.217church.com for more information. or watch a weekend message here