Even if we logically know we are more than what we achieve or accomplish, our actions betray how we feel. We answer one more email to make certain the boss knows how valuable we are. Or we don’t say the thing that needs to be said because we don’t want to make waves or draw attention to ourselves.
Many of us are surrounded by consumerism and marketing that plays to our insecurities. Social media is designed with our addiction to “likes” in mind. The problem of trying to find our value outside of ourselves is not a modern one, however.
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves,” Paul wrote to the Corinthians. “But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense.”
Even the Corinthians needed to be reminded that it is not the opinions of other people that matter.
“’Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord,’” Paul continues. “For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.”
This message is excerpted from “You don’t have to be good” by Sarah Carson in the July 2022 Café online magazine.
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