Double or triple burgers, 62-ounce drinks, warehouse shopping—“The bigger, the better.”

That’s a popular message today, and it’s based on the premise that big size and low price equal value. Celebrity-driven news also often suggests that people can be valued by the amount of media coverage they receive, or the salaries they draw for being famous. These are certainly easy ways to determine value, but are they true? Is value determined by size, volume, price, or celebrity?

I found myself pondering this issue of value one day a few months ago, while sitting at home looking at a small table in our bedroom. My husband and I bought it a few years ago from a store in Maine that sold beautifully crafted, handmade furniture. At the time, we were so excited to see all of the lovely pieces but couldn’t afford more than the very small, round, simply designed table. The wood is rich in color and the quality of the craftsmanship is impeccable; however, we’ve found that its quiet beauty is seldom noticed by visitors. No matter where we’ve placed it in our home, because of its small size and simplicity, guests tend to look right past it.

As I was looking at this sweet table, I wondered about its true worth. The love and care in its design and construction apparently weren’t visible to many, but did that change the table’s value? Would its value be increased if people fussed over it and admired us for having made such a wonderful purchase?

It seems to me that the value of the table can be traced to its character. This includes not only the wood itself, but also the qualities that went into its creation, such as artistic intelligence, creativity, and precise attention to detail. I see these as qualities of love, represented through nature’s sculpture, which we call a tree, as well as the craftsman’s love for that natural sculpture, expressed by carving and shaping a beautiful form that will enhance the beauty of the wood. The table’s value isn’t really formed by outside opinions, or by the amount of attention it receives. True value is in the creation of an object, rather than in changeable criteria.

This insight about value came at a perfect time. I had been feeling unappreciated that day. I had let myself be convinced that my contributions to work and home weren’t recognized by others. So I felt a lot like this little table: sitting in a metaphorical corner and being ignored. I asked God if I was of value, and if so, who was to know about it?

I got a very quiet answer: “Of course you are valuable in God’s eyes.” The Bible even says that He delights in me— "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way” (Ps. 37:23). A real understanding of value, a spiritual understanding, allows us to feel loved and uplifted even if what we’re doing isn’t newsworthy or bringing us recognition.

Mary Baker Eddy mentioned the desire for praise and recognition from others in an address given to church members in 1902: “Consult thy every-day life; take its answer as to thy aims, motives, fondest purposes, and this oracle of years will put to flight all care for the world’s soft flattery or its frown” (Message to The Mother Church for 1902, p. 17). Wouldn’t it be a relief to do this? It is the key to understanding our true spiritual value! Elsewhere, Mrs. Eddy encouraged Christian Scientists, “Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love. . . . 

“Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God? You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duodecillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle” (Pulpit and Press, pp. 3–4).

A spiritual understanding, allows us to feel loved and uplifted.

Each of us is infinitely worthy! But we can only recognize this worth by viewing our true heritage as described by Mrs. Eddy; as possessing “sovereign power” to act rightly. Man’s value stems from the spiritual fact that he is the reflection of Spirit, the Creator of all. Each of us is a complete, individual expression of God, divine Love. And knowing that “one is as important a factor as duodecillions” means that it’s as important for me to uphold the highest standards of being as it is for those in public office or high-profile positions. A small, honest act is as important as a large one. Even though a small act may not be noticeable to as many people, that doesn’t make it less valuable in its effect on our collective mental atmosphere, our neighborhood, our planet.

I spent some time that day thinking about how God created each one of us, men and women, in His image and likeness. And I started to see that I could move away from a perception of value based on human opinions or attention, and toward one that cherishes individual expressions of spiritual qualities such as honesty, integrity, kindness, and consideration. I saw that I could celebrate the goodness that I and others add to society—contributions that, even while small, will last.

I was inspired by the account in the book of Mark of a widow giving two mites to the church (see 12:41–44). A mite was the smallest Jewish coin, about half a cent, and probably represented the woman’s next meal. Jesus, however, “contrasts God’s measurements with man’s” (see The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 7, p. 852) and points out that the widow’s gift was of great value—in fact, of more value than the great amounts given by rich people, because she was willing to give her all, even though it wasn’t very much. The widow’s self-sacrifice, her apparent gratitude for God’s goodness, was a brave act and infused those two little coins with love and deep faith, showing a generous and unafraid heart. Jesus placed value on her deeply sincere intention, not on the amount of money given.

In a similar vein, Mrs. Eddy wrote, “Love giveth to the least spiritual idea might, immortality, and goodness, which shine through all as the blossom shines through the bud” (Science and Health, p. 518). She’s describing a pretty big idea, even though she calls it “least.” As I see it, the word least does not mean inferior; it simply means it’s not the whole, but it is a crucial part of a larger compound idea, like a drop of water being part of the ocean (see Science and Health, p. 361). The true value of this “least idea” is in its character, not its measurable quantity. In fact, every spiritual idea is immeasurable, limitless, since its direct source of life is divine Life and Love. There is no limit to what a spiritual idea can express, since its power is not personal but is in reflection.

These ideas were comforting, and as I continued to pray that afternoon, the sense of disappointment dissolved, and I began to feel close to God, good. I saw that I was infinitely valuable in God’s eyes.

This deeper, beautiful sense of value has since continued to grow and enrich my life. Now, almost every Sunday, I spend a moment or two pondering this idea of “true value.” I attend a church with a very large organ. It has thousands of pipes, but only a very few are visible. The congregation might be impressed by the large, imposing pipes towering over the organ, but there are hundreds and hundreds of smaller pipes, and each one is critical to the organ’s ability to convey beautiful and powerful music. Without the smaller pipes, the organ would lose its integrity; it wouldn’t be whole or complete. Each pipe has been put there for a reason, and each is crucial to the overall power and purpose of the organ and the music. Just so, each of our talents, qualities, and expressions makes up an integral part of God’s whole creation.

We can rejoice in the truth stated by Mrs. Eddy in her sermon read at the dedication of the Original Edifice of The Mother Church: “A dewdrop reflects the sun. Each of Christ’s little ones reflects the infinite One, and therefore is the seer’s declaration true, that ‘one on God’s side is a majority.’ 

“A single drop of water may help to hide the stars, or crown the tree with blossoms” (Pulpit and Press, p. 4). We are each one of “Christ’s little ones,” and therefore have an important place in God’s design.