The NFL’s owners have decided to give Roger Goodell a contract extension to continue as the Commissioner of the league. He has been in charge since 2006, and the league has seen tremendous growth throughout his tenure. Reports indicate that Goodell and the NFL decided on a five-year deal worth $200 million.

Despite some of the questionable decisions he’s made over the years (especially regarding discipline issues and some of the recent controversies surrounding the league), the compensation committee said this:

“Our Committee unanimously supports the contract and believes that it is fully consistent with ‘market’ compensation and the financial and other parameters outlined to the owners at our May 2017 meeting, as well as in the best interests of ownership.”

In light of this contract being agreed upon, it has been debated whether or not Roger Goodell is actually worth $200 million and worthy of keeping this important role. With the NFL being the most powerful sports league, many question if he’s earned the right to stay on in this position.

As long as I can watch my games on Sunday afternoon and play Fantasy Football, I’m not too worried about the Commissioner or his mega-contract. However, this concept of worthiness is one that we can all relate to.

Many of us identify our own worth based on our salary or position at work. We either argue that we are worthy of a raise, or other times think we deserve more of God’s blessings in life because of our hard work and “good” behavior.

Then there are some of us who wrestle with even being worthy of God’s love. We question if we’ve done too many bad things for God to love us…and believe there’s no way God could care about us.

Based on God’s Word, the answer to both perspectives is that none of us are worthy because of our efforts or goodness, but God finds us worthy of His love because of His goodness and mercy.

There are immense peace and freedom found in that truth, and as Ephesians 2:4-9 (ESV) explains:

“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…or 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 we have the opportunity to receive God’s grace and love through faith, 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 to 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.