WHERE DO I FIND MY SIGNIFICANCE?
Often times, I am tempted to find my significance in my position in life. The problem with this is that when I feel as though others are not taking me seriously, my sense of significance is threatened and I am tempted to react by gratifying the desires of the flesh. In other words, in order to reestablish my dominance or sense of a high position over people, I begin to act in a self-centered and self-interested way.
How is this caring for others?
How is the placing the needs of others above myself?
How can I live with a sense of mission for Christ if I am consumed with seeking to assert my own self-significance?
The answer is that I cannot. If I choose to find my significance in a position that gives me control, security, fame, power, or respect I am setting myself up for failure and eventually sin.
Now, imagine that at the moment when I feel tempted, I choose to reaffirm my significance in Christ. I choose to go to Colossians 2:10 which says, “and in him you have been brought to fullness.”
This word fullness is often translated complete. In Christ, I am complete. I do not need to establish my significance as a person anywhere else or in anything else. He is my security. He is my strength. He is my hope. In him, I have been given a sense of significance that far outweighs and outlasts anything this world can offer.
This is not just true for me but for all Christians. The Bible teaches that all people were made in God’s image (Gen 1:27). This means that our sense of identity was given to us. We receive it from God. We are not free to find our identity in anyone or anything else. When we try, bad things happen.
This image of God makes us who we are. However, it was bent by sin. When humanity rebelled against God, we began to seek our sense of worth though other things such as power, security, control, pleasure, etc. The result of this was isolation from God and conflict with one another.
Jesus restores us to what God created us to be. He forgives our sin and we are given eternal life by his righteousness. The Holy Spirit moves into our hearts when we believe (Eph 1:13) and begins to conform our lives to look like Jesus’ life (Romans 8:29).
Having been set free from the darkness of sin and shame through the forgiveness, hope, and purpose we have found in Christ, our lives now have significance. We derive our value and worth from who he says that we are. Then the lies of the world begin to lose affect over us. Why? Because we are in Christ. We see a higher purpose to life, a greater love that calls us out of self-centered living and into the life of God. It is a life that is centered on Jesus and manifested through caring for others, especially those who live in darkness.
Where do you find your sense of significance?
If you are like me and often feel tempted to find your significance in other things, then let’s begin the day by reaffirming Christ’s approval of us through his grace.
Second, let’s point those in our groups to live out their identity in Christ through the ABC’s of spiritual shepherding:
A – Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you
B – Become an intentional shepherd
C – Consistently point them to Jesus
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. (Colossians 3:15)
