Sister Joy D. Jones (Oct. 17): "Value Beyond Measure"

The Activity:

Worth vs. Worthiness

1.     Hold up something (or a picture of something) that is worth a fairly large sum of money, e.g. a piece of art, an expensive watch, etc.

2.     Explain that this item is worth a lot and ask why it is worth so much?

3.     Answers should include things such as the quality of work, the materials used to make it, the uniqueness of the piece, the identity of who made/ produced it, etc.

4.     List these on the board

5.     Next, ask if the value is damaged by where it is located at or who uses it.

6.     Now, open up the discussion and draw parallels between what made the item worth so much and what makes us worth so much and what we are worth and what makes us worth so much.

7.     Illustrate the points with quotes from Sis. Jones’s talk and make sure to emphasize that just as there is nothing that can be done with the object to reduce its value (along the lines of its intended purpose), there is nothing we can do to reduce our worth to God.

Using the Activity:

This is more of an object lesson perhaps than a real discussion strategy, but it can be valuable.  It is useful to note, however, that all object lessons have a point at which they have been pushed too far and begin to lose their usefulness.  I do think this is an important principle and do not mean to trivialize the worth of souls.  I also think, though, that most people understand the souls of others are valuable—it is just at times, we aren’t so sure that our own souls are of such great value.  I hope that this illustration gives people a way of thinking about the nature of their own worth in a way that will help them realize there value is not adjustable—it simply is. 

Please let me know how this idea works for you, if you choose to use it.  I hope that it provides you and your class with a valuable experience.  May God bless you for your efforts.