Money Isn't Everything; Treating People Right Is

Go ahead. Join me in announcing to all who will listen that you are worthwhile. In fact, tell them that you will not allow them to define you by their narrow earthly parameters of “success”. You might not be a Bill Gates or a J. K. Rowling; but then, neither were they--at first. It’s fairly common knowledge that Bill Gates started Microsoft in a garage and J. K. Rowling was on government assistance (welfare) when she first envisioned Harry Potter.

So, you’re not rich and famous? So what?! Are all prominent people happy? Are all prominent people worthy of your respect? Absolutely not! The people whose opinions you should treasure are those who know how to treat people right.

Paul, the Apostle

Paul was not concerned about his image. In I Corinthians 4:3-4 he states: “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself yet I am not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.”

Paul knew that man’s judgment could be blind, based on superficial worldly labels. He recognized that there are many individuals who walk around with metaphorical blinders similar to the man in the image above. He wasn’t going to concern himself with the opinions of such misguided people.

You Can’t get a PhD. In Common Sense.

Frankly speaking, my life experience is worth a lot. I have been through more in my lifetime than some people who are twice my age. I have a lot of common sense. I didn’t learn it in a classroom. I learned it at the School of Hard Knocks. My common sense has saved me from many traumatic situations, but it hasn’t made me much money…YET.

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Some people don’t respect life experience. They don’t realize how invaluable it is. They prefer to listen only to people who have learned in the classroom and have money. This is a huge mistake. I have met many “learned”, or “rich”, people who are not wealthy in any knowledge or “currency” that really matters.

Since I don’t have a lot of money, or letters behind my name, my opinion is devalued by some individuals. For instance, the other day, I was blocked by a man on Google+ almost immediately following a point in our chat when I revealed what I do for a living. He surmised that I could do nothing to further his agenda, so he was “done” interacting with me. I wasn’t an important person, so why should he bother treating me with even a modicum of respect?

(There, Mr. I’m-Too-Good-For-You, do you even know what “modicum” means? Ha! Aren’t superior language skills as important as a high salary? Try applying for an executive position if you have poor communication skills! But, I digress. That’s another blog post.)

As any social media user can attest, this is not an uncommon incident. So how do we 

keep our self-respect?

We rest in God’s love, acceptance, and guidance. God sees the first apostle to the Gentiles in the man who persecuted church members. God sees the fledgling bestselling author in the starving, abused single mom. God sees the fledgling software billionaire in the computer geek struggling to run a business out of a garage.

God isn’t done with you yet. What does God see in you?