“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
We live in a world where value is often measured by performance. As humans, we tend to place expectations on the people around us—our employees, family members, even friends—and judge their worth based on how well they meet those expectations.
Think about it: if you’re an employer, do you truly see and appreciate your employees beyond their tasks? If you’re someone in charge of a household, do you value the babysitter or relative who stays with you? Or have they become invisible labour—people you rely on but rarely affirm?
Too often, we treat others like tools to meet our needs rather than souls worthy of love and appreciation.
But God sees things differently.
John 3:16 is more than a memory verse, it’s a declaration of a love that sees beyond performance. “For God so loved the world . . .” Not just the good, the obedient or the productive. He loved everyone. Enough to send His only Son to die for us not because we earned it, but because we were worth it to Him.
God’s love isn’t transactional. It doesn’t demand perfection before affection. He values each person deeply, simply because they are His creation. And if God sees such worth in people, shouldn’t we?
This truth calls us to live differently. To slow down, to see people the way God does. To value those we take for granted. To affirm the dignity of the quiet worker, the overlooked helper, the imperfect relative.
When we love like this, we reflect the very heart of the gospel.
Rose Maine Sinias writes from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
