So here is a question for you: do you think that you matter? That is, do you feel as though you are of significance in the world? Regardless of your honest answer to that question, it is something that we do truly desire to be and have. We all want to matter. After all, it is that feeling and desire which fuels some (if not all) of our dreams and fantasies and since we do not tend to fantasize about things which are not appealing, it is a safe bet to say it probably is quite appealing. Since it is something appealing and desirable, it is something which we pursue.
A problem arises in where a person may choose to find that significance or self worth. For instance, if it is from your job that you find your worth what happens when an ecomonic downturn results in your being unemployed? What happens to your feelings of personal significance if that brief period of unemployment becomes a longer than expected period? What if you find your significance in, say, being a parent? Happens when your children are no longer with you? Perhaps you find your significance in some special skill or ability. If something happens and that ability is gone (or someone else is better than you at it), where does that leave your self worth at? Maybe your significance comes from someone else, like a spouse for example. If they were to leave (in one way or another), where does that leave you?
Looks kind of bleak doesn't it? Take a moment to get past the bleakness of the view and see what each of these have in common with the other. Need a hint? They are all things which are perishable and changable. Work comes and goes, as do children, spouses, skills, stuff we own, social standing, etc. If our significance is tied up with something (people are somethings too) that can change (leaving is change) then we may well be set up for disaster.
So our question now becomes, where do we find significance if not from anything or anyone in the world?
Some may say that we must find it within ourselves. Problem is, we change as well. Not too mention what happens when we stumble upon one of those lovely tidbits within ourselves that are less than pleasant to admit to. Plus, too much self focused significance can lead to one becoming quite arrogant (good chance we have all known someone who was overly full of themselves - is not appealing and many times, they can be pretty insecure themselves since they alone bear the weight of their own worth). Consider Jesus' rebuke of the pharisees in Matthew 23:5-7: “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others." (phylacteries were/are boxes containing scripture strapped to the forehead). The people whom He is rebuking are finding their significance in their own self-righteousness thus why they feel the need to show it off.
What if I were to tell you that you ARE of great significance and worth and that that statement is based upon the imperishable and not the finite and perishable?
How can I say that if I do not even know who is reading this? Allow me a moment, please.
God is all knowing, all powerful, and eternal. He has no beginning or end. He does not shift or change. His character is what it has always been and will always be what it is. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). Long and short of it is this: God does not change; God does not perish. Hmmmm. That said, is there significance to be found for us in God? Do
we matter to Him?
This is a profoundly important question, not only to the believer but to the non-beliver as well, since we have established that we do, in fact, desire to be significant to someone in some way. Let us think on a couple of points then, shall we?
God is all powerful and eternal, existing for all time, outside of time and space in a place where even our imaginations cannot stretch far enough to fully grasp. Even though this is true, He (God) by His own choice (for who can force God?) exists also within the very time and space which He created which includes all things viewed, heard, etc. Choosing to be involved and interact with
humanity.
A relatively well known verse from John 3:16 starts with "For God so loved the world..". This is not refering to the rock we walk upon but the people who inhabit said rock.
Romans 5:8 - "...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
One could easily go on and on here, but I believe these few points do get the idea across quite well. We are significant and of great worth to the only One who does not change or go away or die or any of the other possible failings of the perishable reality which surrounds us. In Him, we CAN find significance and worth. We must, however, keep in mind that He does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11). While we are each "His favorite child", none of us is greater than another - we are however, infinitely significant to Him.
After all, He considers us - regardless of what we do, have done or even if we give Him a second thought - worth dying for.
*Some things which God has been speaking to me directly and through other sources, including a conversation with Patty, have combined to create this post*
No comments:
Post a Comment