June 15th, 2026
by Marselo Lozano
by Marselo Lozano
Our Worth in God's Eyes:
What is appraisal? And why is it so important? It is the formal process of estimating the value, quality, or nature of something or someone. The term usually refers to an “ expert valuation ” of property (like real estate or jewelry) or a periodic workplace performance.
Have you ever noticed how we assign value to everything in our lives? From our homes to our cars, from our possessions to our very selves, we're constantly engaged in the business of appraisal. But what happens when our assessments don't match reality? And more importantly, what happens when we apply this same flawed system to evaluating ourselves and others?
Perspective Problem:
We all know the frustration. You purchase a home for $80,000, but the county appraises it at $120,000 for tax purposes while your insurance company will only cover it for $75,000. You drive your brand-new car off the lot, and its value immediately plummets. The appraisal game seems rigged, doesn't it? The issue isn't just with property and possessions. We play this same game with people—including ourselves. We have our own appraisal, and then there's everyone else's. The challenge lies in finding the "true value"—that agreed-upon worth that both parties can accept. But here's where it gets spiritually dangerous: we often undervalue ourselves while simultaneously judging others harshly. Or we do the opposite, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought while dismissing the worth of those around us.
Fresh Paint And Rotted Wood:
There's a powerful truth hidden in a simple home improvement analogy. When you put fresh paint on rotted wood, the wood is still rotten underneath. The paint job might look impressive, but the foundation remains compromised. How often do we do this spiritually? We clean up the outside while leaving the inside untouched. We present a polished version of ourselves to the world while hiding our struggles, our doubts, our messy reality. Jesus confronted this very issue with the Pharisees, telling them they washed the outside of the cup while the inside remained filthy. It's the classic case of the car that looks pristine on the outside until you open the door and bottles, trash, and chaos tumble out.
Freedom Without Wisdom:
First Corinthians 8:9 warns us about a subtle trap: "But you must be careful that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble." When we experience freedom in Christ, when we grow in our relationship with God and gain spiritual knowledge, we face a temptation. We can become so confident in our liberty that we forget about those still struggling. We can become so "free" that we actually cause others to stumble. The scripture reminds us that just because we have the freedom to do something doesn't mean we should. Not everything is beneficial. Our spiritual maturity shouldn't become a stumbling block for others who are still finding their way.
Reality Check:
Galatians 6:1-5 delivers a sobering message: "If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." That's not a gentle suggestion—it's a reality check. When we elevate ourselves, when we think we've arrived spiritually, when we believe we're too advanced to relate to those struggling with basic issues, we've lost our way. The passage continues with crucial instruction: "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." Stop comparing. Stop judging. Focus on your own conduct and your own relationship with God.
Extension Cord Reality:
Sometimes others look at our lives and see wealth, success, or spiritual maturity that we know doesn't exist. They see the house but not the extension cords running through the rooms because the wiring hasn't been updated. They see the exterior but not the foundation issues lurking beneath. Conversely, we often look at others and make snap judgments based on appearances, never knowing the battles they're fighting behind closed doors. The truth? We're all works in progress. We all have areas where the paint is fresh but the wood needs replacing. We all have rooms we don't want anyone to see.
More Highly Than You Ought:
Romans 12:1-3 calls us to worship God with our whole lives, but it includes this warning: "Don't think you are better than you really are." This is the heart of the matter. We must resist two equally dangerous temptations: First, undervaluing ourselves to the point where we don't recognize the gifts, talents, and worth God has placed within us. When we constantly diminish ourselves, we fail to step into the calling God has for our lives. Second, overvaluing ourselves to the point where we become arrogant, unteachable, and unable to relate to those who need our help. When we think we've mastered the Christian life, we've actually disqualified ourselves from genuine ministry.
Temple Reality:
First Corinthians 3:16 reminds us: "Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" This changes everything about appraisal. You are not just a collection of successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses. You are a temple—a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. When God appraises you, He's not looking at surface-level achievements or comparing you to others. He's looking at your heart, your intentions, your willingness to be transformed.
An Honest Appraisal:
Can you give yourself an honest appraisal? Not one that's overly harsh or falsely humble, but one rooted in the truth of who God says you are? Can you extend that same honest, grace-filled appraisal to others? Can you look past their faults and see their potential? Can you recognize their struggles without judgment? The truth is, our best intentions often fail because we don't follow through. We think about doing good things, and in our minds, we've already accomplished them. Meanwhile, we judge others for not measuring up to standards we ourselves haven't met. First Corinthians 3:21-23 offers this stunning declaration: "Everything belongs to you...and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." When you understand your identity as a child of God, you stop worrying about following human leaders or comparing yourself to others. You recognize that you have access to everything you need through Christ. But this privilege comes with responsibility. You're called to live worthy of that identity—not through perfection, but through authenticity, humility, and a willingness to grow. So now we must stop undervaluing what God has placed within you. Stop overvaluing your spiritual maturity while dismissing others. Stop painting over rotten wood and calling it renovation. Instead, allow God to do the deep work. Let Him replace what needs replacing, restore what's broken, and reveal the true value He's always seen in you.
You are the temple of God. Live like it matters.
What is appraisal? And why is it so important? It is the formal process of estimating the value, quality, or nature of something or someone. The term usually refers to an “ expert valuation ” of property (like real estate or jewelry) or a periodic workplace performance.
Have you ever noticed how we assign value to everything in our lives? From our homes to our cars, from our possessions to our very selves, we're constantly engaged in the business of appraisal. But what happens when our assessments don't match reality? And more importantly, what happens when we apply this same flawed system to evaluating ourselves and others?
Perspective Problem:
We all know the frustration. You purchase a home for $80,000, but the county appraises it at $120,000 for tax purposes while your insurance company will only cover it for $75,000. You drive your brand-new car off the lot, and its value immediately plummets. The appraisal game seems rigged, doesn't it? The issue isn't just with property and possessions. We play this same game with people—including ourselves. We have our own appraisal, and then there's everyone else's. The challenge lies in finding the "true value"—that agreed-upon worth that both parties can accept. But here's where it gets spiritually dangerous: we often undervalue ourselves while simultaneously judging others harshly. Or we do the opposite, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought while dismissing the worth of those around us.
Fresh Paint And Rotted Wood:
There's a powerful truth hidden in a simple home improvement analogy. When you put fresh paint on rotted wood, the wood is still rotten underneath. The paint job might look impressive, but the foundation remains compromised. How often do we do this spiritually? We clean up the outside while leaving the inside untouched. We present a polished version of ourselves to the world while hiding our struggles, our doubts, our messy reality. Jesus confronted this very issue with the Pharisees, telling them they washed the outside of the cup while the inside remained filthy. It's the classic case of the car that looks pristine on the outside until you open the door and bottles, trash, and chaos tumble out.
Freedom Without Wisdom:
First Corinthians 8:9 warns us about a subtle trap: "But you must be careful that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble." When we experience freedom in Christ, when we grow in our relationship with God and gain spiritual knowledge, we face a temptation. We can become so confident in our liberty that we forget about those still struggling. We can become so "free" that we actually cause others to stumble. The scripture reminds us that just because we have the freedom to do something doesn't mean we should. Not everything is beneficial. Our spiritual maturity shouldn't become a stumbling block for others who are still finding their way.
Reality Check:
Galatians 6:1-5 delivers a sobering message: "If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." That's not a gentle suggestion—it's a reality check. When we elevate ourselves, when we think we've arrived spiritually, when we believe we're too advanced to relate to those struggling with basic issues, we've lost our way. The passage continues with crucial instruction: "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." Stop comparing. Stop judging. Focus on your own conduct and your own relationship with God.
Extension Cord Reality:
Sometimes others look at our lives and see wealth, success, or spiritual maturity that we know doesn't exist. They see the house but not the extension cords running through the rooms because the wiring hasn't been updated. They see the exterior but not the foundation issues lurking beneath. Conversely, we often look at others and make snap judgments based on appearances, never knowing the battles they're fighting behind closed doors. The truth? We're all works in progress. We all have areas where the paint is fresh but the wood needs replacing. We all have rooms we don't want anyone to see.
More Highly Than You Ought:
Romans 12:1-3 calls us to worship God with our whole lives, but it includes this warning: "Don't think you are better than you really are." This is the heart of the matter. We must resist two equally dangerous temptations: First, undervaluing ourselves to the point where we don't recognize the gifts, talents, and worth God has placed within us. When we constantly diminish ourselves, we fail to step into the calling God has for our lives. Second, overvaluing ourselves to the point where we become arrogant, unteachable, and unable to relate to those who need our help. When we think we've mastered the Christian life, we've actually disqualified ourselves from genuine ministry.
Temple Reality:
First Corinthians 3:16 reminds us: "Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" This changes everything about appraisal. You are not just a collection of successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses. You are a temple—a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. When God appraises you, He's not looking at surface-level achievements or comparing you to others. He's looking at your heart, your intentions, your willingness to be transformed.
An Honest Appraisal:
Can you give yourself an honest appraisal? Not one that's overly harsh or falsely humble, but one rooted in the truth of who God says you are? Can you extend that same honest, grace-filled appraisal to others? Can you look past their faults and see their potential? Can you recognize their struggles without judgment? The truth is, our best intentions often fail because we don't follow through. We think about doing good things, and in our minds, we've already accomplished them. Meanwhile, we judge others for not measuring up to standards we ourselves haven't met. First Corinthians 3:21-23 offers this stunning declaration: "Everything belongs to you...and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." When you understand your identity as a child of God, you stop worrying about following human leaders or comparing yourself to others. You recognize that you have access to everything you need through Christ. But this privilege comes with responsibility. You're called to live worthy of that identity—not through perfection, but through authenticity, humility, and a willingness to grow. So now we must stop undervaluing what God has placed within you. Stop overvaluing your spiritual maturity while dismissing others. Stop painting over rotten wood and calling it renovation. Instead, allow God to do the deep work. Let Him replace what needs replacing, restore what's broken, and reveal the true value He's always seen in you.
You are the temple of God. Live like it matters.
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