Achievement ≠ Worth
When God is at the center there is a peace, a soul rest, a joy, an inner contentment, because we see not only his power and wisdom over all things, but we see clearly his deep penetrating love and are made whole in his soothing grace.
Very early on in my life the sales pitch that achievement and productivity would make me feel worth and value dug it’s claws deep into the fiber of my being. The idea that achievement equals value, or accomplishment equals worth made their way into my core belief system when I was still a child. I understand why the voices of our schools, coaches, teachers and speakers all rant a message of “make something of yourself” when we are young trying to sculpt us into world changers, but I wonder if there are others out there like me who now in adulthood find it hard to feel valuable outside of some major contribution to society. Are our days judged by our output and productivity? Is the value of our lives judged solely on success as defined by our world? This idea of “achievement equals worth” formed a foundation of personal value for me so much so that apart from accomplishment it has been hard for me to not feel down on myself. Apart from productivity and achievement I judge myself, my day, my time, my year, my season a failure.
As I shared on my last blog (best-≠-rest) after being challenged by a friend’s article, I’m on a soul journey to find the lies of the enemy I’ve been entertaining. While the world has told me achievement equals worth it is not the message of the gospel. In fact, I believe what accomplishment and success cost us is actually often counterproductive to our souls. In other words is the hurry, rush, push, accomplish life-style of over packing a day and always multitasking in order to get more done actually detrimental to the soul? The soul is the truest part of who God made us; it is the seat of our will, emotions, thoughts, temperament, passions, and spirituality. Does living with the lie of “your worth is dependent upon your output” causing us to neglect the truest parts of ourselves?
Sounds a lot like what Jesus asked his disciples in order to make a point that who and what we give our souls to, matters a great deal, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Mt. 16:26). Is your success causing you to forfeit your soul, the deepest part of who you are? That part of us was intentionally designed as it is because the individuality of who we are brings glory to God. Of course the enemy wants us to sell our souls in the name of success because in so doing he accomplishes his mission to keep glory from God.
“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God-you’re breathtaking! Body and Soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration-what a creation!” (Ps 13913-14 Msg) That is the worshipful response we should have in recognition of the unique individuality God has designed each soul with.
In Mark 8:37 NLT, Jesus says it this way, “Is anything worth more than your soul?” Our souls are the lasting and eternal parts of us. No amount of wealth or kudos from the outside world is worth it if in so doing we suffocate the soul. “Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.” (1Pet. 2:11 MSG)
In doing an inventory of my soul the last few weeks I’ve had to do some soul math and I’ve found that some of my equations are off. Like last week when I found the lie the enemy told me that figuring out the best in every scenario would gain me an inner rest and peace; I’ve checked the source of truth, the answer book if you will and this equation of achievement equals value is also wrong. I’ve had it wrong and I’m OK with that, because the right answer does equal peace and it does equal rest. I have worth and I have value because I’m God’s creation, I’m his daughter, I was chosen, picked out and purchased with the blood of Christ and given a glorious inheritance and a deposit of the Holy Spirit was put within me. I have worth not because of what I’ve done but because of what was done for me. I have value not because of what I have accomplished but because of what was accomplished for me on the cross.
2016/08/25 at 9:50 pm