For many people, an answer to the question “who are
you?” often results in a response involving a vocation or something they do
which is very important in their lives. In other words “who are you?” gets this
type of response:
“I’m an electrician.”
“I’m a manager.”
“I’m a soccer player.”
“I’m a musician.”
“I run a small business.”
Notice, however, these responses do not actually
answer the question “who are you?” rather, they tell us what the person does.
This reality caught my attention because I’ve
noticed—even though I know better—I typically do the same thing. My identity is
wrapped up in being a pastor of a church. In fact, I hate to admit it because
it’s embarrassing, but in my very honest moments I have had to acknowledge to
myself that much of my sense of self-worth is tied to being a pastor.
So, in my mind, the equation sometimes tends to work
like this: If things are going well at the church and it is relatively healthy,
I’m a worthwhile and valuable person. On the other hand, if things are not
going well at the church and it is going through a season of not being
particularly healthy my value as a person is diminished.
(Please understand, I realize this is unhealthy and
incorrect thinking. I am not endorsing this type of thinking I am simply trying
to honestly identify it.)
I am reminding myself today that my identity is not
based on what I do—neither is yours, by the way. Our identity is rooted in the
fact that we were lovingly, intentionally created by God. We do not deliver a
higher level of performance in order to have greater worth and value. We
already have worth, value and dignity because we are created in the image of
God, himself.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me
together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm
139:13-14
“So God created human beings in his own image. In
the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis
1:27
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