I grew up in a world where one was taught to recognize what made something valuable. Examples were all around. One currency was more valuable than others be of the hard linkage to gold. Coin value could be seen in the materials used – copper and brass on the lower value, silver and ultimately gold at the opposite end of the spectrum. Often the weight of a coin was also linked to its value. Everything was simple, tangible, and often carried on one’s person or stored in a safe.
With gold standards only resident in the footnotes in books unread, our world today has cryptocurrencies, dematerialized securities, derivatives, symbols, and tokens, some physical and most only found deep and secure in an anonymous virtual server in the cloud.
What makes anything valuable today? Currencies are not guaranteed. The price I paid for land yesterday may not reflect the value it has today.
The change has gone into every aspect of living. Traditional religions have expanded to make room for sports, obsessions, and other ideas which we worship. There is a pull to step back from country, community, and tribe and define life purely by what it in it for oneself.
Without commenting on money and the buying power of value, I would observe that the psalmist’s centuries old observation still rings true; “The gods of the godless nations are mere trinkets, made for quick sale in the markets.” (Psalm 135.15)
Life reminds me that value, today and yesterday, are defined by the following.
Community and service to each other within it. Value which cannot be replaced is found in our relationships and the service we gift to each other. When one knows one belong and is certain others have them in their care, I for one know this is the most valuable thing I can have.
Care and kindness, especially when it is underserved. The experience of compassion, grace, forgiveness, acceptance, and belonging is extraordinarily valuable.
Love to, for, and with each other. This combines service, care, and kindness with creation and restoration. It is Divinely valuable.
