Which leads to the question, what is our self-worth based upon? People put their self-worth in a wide variety of things, many of which I have mentioned over the course of this series. What we as individuals look to are often established very early in life, latching onto whatever gratifies our feelings. If not from family norms, it's frequently found within the public school social structure. Sometimes we never bother to question or, mature beyond our initial childish inklings that fall short of true wholeness. Sometimes our perception of self-worth is so deeply rooted in us that we try to project it onto others. Sometimes there are just so many voices competing for our attention, it's hard to hear the truth even when we do question it.
As disciples of Christ, we need to consider this question very carefully and dare to question our preconceived notions. Since even church people can get caught up in putting their hope in the created instead of the creator. When we value the gift over the giver, we run the risk of crossing the line into idolatry. This American cultural bias is so strong that we often confuse it for virtue and encourage others to do the same. Yet consider where it has led us all by putting our self-worth into such fragile and temporal things.
Take the rich man from Mark 10 and Luke 18, Jesus made him face his misguided notions of self-worth. Yet, by all indications, he refused to reconsider said beliefs. The woman at the well in John 4 had a similar experience. Yet, she was far more willing to reconsider. I dare say having five ex-husbands; she had her fair share of fall flat on her face moments. It's often those fallen moments that cause us to reconsider. Yet, if we don't go deep enough, and only try to provoke the same feelings in a different way, this can lead to addictive behavior or impulse control disorders.
It's really easy to say our worth is in God alone, people do it continually. While that means something to those who already believe, but for those who don't, it's just a vague platitude. Our reason for this hope we have must go deeper and be expressed more distinctly. (1st Peter 3:15) The outside world simply sees Christianity as a standard of morality; many do little to counter this one-dimensional view. So everyone assumes that their worth by that standard is conditional upon living up to it in an instant. As heirs to the kingdom we must do a better job of educating people about the gospel. That salvation is a gateway to the path to wholeness. That nothing else can absolve us from our past traumas, and the mistakes that haunt us. That through it all you will find a mission that touches the lives of others, which leads to true fulfillment and makes you part of something much bigger. Not an instant gratification path to self-worth, but a more effective one in the long run if we embrace it.
In an age where people are falling on their face left and right, from following their feelings blindly; the opportunities for outreach are there. Yet so many are only using these opportunities to kick people while they are down. Yet, we wonder why they are looking everywhere but Jesus for self-worth.
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