Treasure Digest: The $20 Lesson
I held up the dirty, crumpled $20 bill and asked the audience, "How much is this $20 bill worth?"
She looked surprised when I asked her to crumple a crisp $20 bill, and even more surprised when I asked her to drop it and grind it into the floor!
It was during a presentation at the Pittsburgh Woman's Retreat, and after my volunteer was done stomping on it, I held up the dirty, crumpled $20 bill and asked the audience, "How much is this $20 bill worth now?" Of course the answer was still $20. When I straightened it out, I could go to any store and still spend it. Just because the $20 bill was crumpled up and ground into the floor did not cause it to lose its value.
So what does that have to do with you and me?
The stresses of life, the trials that come roaring in unexpectedly, can beat us down. We can begin to feel worthless to our families, on our jobs, in our community, at church and, most importantly, to God. Unmet deadlines, overcommitments, lack of rest and time for ourselves, all have a way of dragging us down and killing our self-worth. But are those feelings based on facts or are they just feelings?
It is at times like these that we must be reminded how much God values us. Christ said, "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Luke 12:7, New International Version throughout).
We must be of great value—God gave His Son for us! There is no way He will give up on you.
But we do feel crushed and worthless at times, so what should we do?
Ask God to encourage you. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). Our very loving God can lift us up, uncrumple us and encourage us.
So when things start pressing you down and making you feel worthless, remember the $20 bill lesson. Even though we may be crumpled up and ground into the dirt, we have not lost our value to God, for He paid a high price for you and me, that of His Son! He will not give up on His investment—you! He has the power to uncrumple you!
—Janet Treadway
Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation
Course Content
Janet Treadway
Janet Treadway was born in Washington, D.C., but was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. She started attending the Church of God with her mother at the age of 14 along with her twin brother, Jim.
She was baptized at the age of 19 in 1974. She has been involved in various activities, such as serving as the managing editor of UCG’s first teen magazine UsTeens, which was distributed worldwide and published in English and Spanish.
Janet’s first love is writing. She has contributed many articles in various publications such as Vertical Thought, Virtual Christian Magazine, United News and others. Her article “Take Action, Your Life May Depend on It” is also featured in the reprint “The Cycle of Abuse.” Janet draws from her own life’s experiences and challenges when she writes and is motivated to give readers hope that God will see them through anything.
Janet has worked in the home office of the United Church of God since 1998. She is married to Charles Treadway and has four children, David, Michelle, Michael and Josh, as well as six grandchildren and two granddogs, Jo Jo and Vinny.
