Self-Worth vs. Net Worth
“Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.”
I once knew a successful businessman who grew up on the streets of New York City.
He explained that when you’re living on the streets, only two things matter—food and shelter. Hygiene takes a back seat. He recalled a painful childhood memory of sitting in an elementary classroom when other children began to make fun of him because of his odor. As he relived that moment decades later, the pain and humiliation were still evident on his face. It was a defining experience—one that set him on a lifelong mission to prove his worth to the world.
A natural and gifted entrepreneur, he found success early. He built a brilliant family of companies, hired talented employees, and established himself as a leader in his industry. He had a high-rise office, a beautiful home, and luxury cars. Always impeccably dressed, he embodied the classic rags-to-riches story—a self-made millionaire who had seemingly “made it.”
Then, the rumors of bankruptcy surfaced.
At first, he brushed them off, assuring his peers and employees that everything was fine. But when the FBI raided his home, he could no longer hide the truth. He had orchestrated a Ponzi scheme, stealing millions from customers to fund a lavish lifestyle—an $84,000 Rolex, private airfare for his family, and more. Today, he sits in prison, awaiting trial, his fortune and reputation in ruins.
There are many lessons in this story, but the one that stands out is this: You can never out-earn your self-worth.
This man’s deep insecurity drove him to find his identity in his net worth and material possessions. He spent his life trying to prove his value, but in the end, vanity cost him everything—his business, his reputation, and his family.
While this is an extreme case, we see the same struggle play out in everyday life. Insecurity often fuels our next Amazon purchase, the longing for a new car, or the desire for a picture-perfect home straight out of Pinterest (I really wish mine was). But why do we care so much? Why do we allow vanity to compromise our joy? What truly matters in the grand scheme of things? We all know the right answers to these questions.
Yet, knowing the truth doesn’t always change our hearts.
I know my net worth doesn’t define my self-worth. And yet, that knowledge doesn’t always stop me from dwelling on financial goals or dreaming about my next home renovation project (God bless my husband).
Some days, I feel like Isaiah:
"But I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity…'" - Isaiah 49:4 (ESV)
Thankfully, the verse doesn’t end there. The second half brings hope:
"…yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God." - Isaiah 49:4 (ESV)
This is what we often miss. While we spend our days worrying about how the world perceives us, we overlook how God sees us.
Did you know that as a Christian, God has given you the right to experience not only financial wealth but, more importantly, spiritual wealth? Wealth isn’t just about the numbers in your bank account. True wealth is found in inner peace, joy, and self-respect. When you have these things, you have self-worth.
The man from New York may have lost everything externally, but I pray he finds spiritual wealth—the kind that no bankruptcy or scandal can take away. And I pray the same for you. Because this is a real struggle we all face. May we be less concerned with material wealth and more focused on the riches of the soul.
Jesus said it best in His Sermon on the Mount:
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Choose wisely, because you are worth it my friend.
“I wish everyone could experience being rich and famous, so they’d see it wasn’t the answer to anything.”
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