My Worth is Not in What I Own - Morgan McDonnough

"My worth is not in what I own, not in the strength of flesh and bone, but in the costly wounds of love at the cross."

This is the opening line of one of my favorite hymns and the theme of something the Lord has been sanctifying in me during this season of life. The girls in my fellowship and I are studying a book with our manager, Maggie, called When People Are Big and God Is Small by Ed Welch. I’ll be honest—I’ve struggled with the sin of fearing man for a long time. I don’t think I would have ever described it as "making man big and God small," but that’s exactly what it is. It’s seeking my worth in things that are insufficient, fleeting, and guaranteed to fail me—as I will inevitably fail them. Not only do other people fail me, but relying on myself for sufficiency will fail me every time.

In wrestling with the fear of man, I often fall into legalism. I’ll try to accomplish things in my own strength or strive to be perfect or the best—frequently with motives tied to either impressing others (fear of man) or neglecting to rest in God’s grace. I sometimes operate under the assumption that I must be perfect, even if I wouldn’t openly admit or consciously believe that. Instead of recognizing my inability to achieve perfection and resting in God’s grace and the gospel, I struggle. But the truth is that Christ was perfect and took the punishment I deserved on my behalf. His righteousness has been imputed to believers, making us righteous—not by our own works but by His righteousness during His life on Earth and through His sacrifice.

What’s more, He continues to provide grace, sanctifying believers to grow in Christlikeness. His mercies are new every morning, and no sin is surprising to Him. It’s a paradoxical feeling to live as though I need to be perfect while believing in salvation by faith alone. But that is the gospel in a nutshell: I will NEVER be good enough. I am depraved and a wretched sinner, BUT, as Romans 8:1-4 says:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

Christ is sufficient, and His grace is sufficient too. He fulfilled the law and was perfect—something we can never achieve, no matter how hard we try. Not only did He perfectly fulfill the law, but He also lived a sinless life and bore the punishment for sin. When God looks at us, He no longer sees our sin. Because Christ paid the penalty, God sees Christ’s righteousness imputed to us. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says:

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

I’m still learning to balance the law and the gospel, but the Lord has been incredibly kind as I continue to grow. This process has illuminated His grace and the gospel even more. I need to strive to obey the Lord—fueled by His grace that makes me new (2 Corinthians 5:17) and His grace in sanctification, which conforms me to His image. Yet, when I sin, there is no condemnation. I can repent and turn back to the Lord, relying on His strength rather than seeking approval from others or depending on myself.

I am saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—gifts of the Lord. His grace softens hearts, makes us new through faith, and all of it is made possible by Christ’s sacrifice. This is where everyone’s worth and confidence should be found—the only foundation that is true and lasting. How kind the Lord is to provide this!"

I rejoice in my Redeemer, greatest treasure, wellspring of my soul. I will trust in Him, no other; my soul is satisfied in Him alone." (My Worth Is Not in What I Own)