Carolina Panthers running back, Christian McCaffrey, is one of the brightest stars in the NFL. His ability to make big plays on the ground and catch passes as a receiver are reasons he's one of the most versatile and valuable players in the league.
Last year, he became only the third player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards and have over 1,000 receiving yards in one season. With Cam Newton no longer on the team, McCaffrey is the new face of the franchise and the type of player new head coach, Matt Rhule, is excited to build around.
That is why the Panthers decided to make McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in NFL history with a new four-year extension that pays him $16 million per year.
Most Panthers fans are glad McCaffrey is locked up with a longterm contract, but there are still critics that question whether or not a running back is worth that much money.
After all, the two teams that just played in the Super Bowl didn’t have marquee running backs...and previous running backs who signed big deals like Le’Veon Bell and Todd Gurley haven’t lived up to them.
Also, in general, running backs have shorter careers and have become devalued in the new era of the NFL with an emphasis on the passing game.
But McCaffrey’s ability to contribute to all facets of the offense increases his worth to the team and it’s no wonder the Panthers felt comfortable awarding him this contract.
Reading about a player making millions of dollars when many of us are trying to keep our jobs, or have already lost our jobs and can't pay the bills, isn't easy.
However, I do think the discussion surrounding the value of running backs and the worthiness of McCaffrey’s contract, is similar to how we wrestle with our own worth and value.
Many of us identify our worth based on our salary or position at work. We might argue that we're worthy of a raise and deserve more of God’s blessings because we work hard and do the right things.
On the other hand, some of us might feel worthless right now because we're not working or we've been told our role is nonessential.
Beyond our job situation, some of us wonder whether or not we're worthy of God’s love. We question if we’ve done too many bad things for God to love us, and think there’s no way He could care about us. We then try and work harder to earn His love and favor.
The truth is, however, that none of us are worthy based on our individual efforts or goodness and we can't create enough value on our own. But, God finds us worthy of His love because of His goodness and mercy.
We can find immense peace and freedom in that amazing fact and the Bible explains it in Ephesians 2:4-9 (ESV): “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
You and I aren’t worthy of God’s love because we’re good enough and we're not unworthy because we’re bad enough. Despite our sin and individual efforts that fall short, God finds us worthy to be with Him because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Since the God of the universe now finds us valuable, in Christ, let's stop defining our worth by our job or salary.
Thankfully we receive God’s grace and love through faith rather than our performance, so He’s the One worthy of all praise, glory, and honor. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess I struggle with my worthiness to You and others. I pray that’d I rest in knowing I’m loved by You and made worthy of eternity with You because of Jesus. I pray that would fill me with thanksgiving and humility. It’s in His name I pray and trust, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What do you define your worth and value by?
How would your job perspective change if you didn't need it to provide your worth?
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