There are times when I feel like I don't measure up. I have high standards for myself and aspire to perform at a certain level but fall short of those expectations. I'm hard on myself because "I messed up again" and I KNOW I can do better. In my disappointment I may kick myself in frustration, become angry with myself or even feel depressed. I tend to give others plenty of grace with their shortcomings, but grace is in short supply when applied to myself. I tend to measure myself by how I perform. That's not very healthy, but I suspect I'm not alone when doing this.
Our society focuses more on a person's accomplishments rather than on the value of a person. Consequently, our self-identity is wrapped up in our living circumstances and abilities to perform tasks. Let me give you an example. If I were to say, "Who are you?" or "Tell me about yourself," what would you say? You will undoubtedly tell me some facts about yourself. You may begin by telling me your name and then something about your family situation i.e. I'm married/divorced/single/
All of this information is helpful in getting to know the circumstances of someone's life and have a point of reference for employment or activities, but one's self-worth should never be determined by only such information. God doesn't ask for a résumé or description of accomplishments in determining the value of a person. It is true that God's love is unconditional and everlasting, but that doesn't mean God approves of everything we do. The law of actions and consequences still applies and we will most likely reap what we've sown, but a person's heart, not one's accomplishments is what's important. One's value is not enhanced by superior performance nor lessened by inferior work. The value of a person begins with looking at a person from God's perspective. This perspective is part of the transformation one experiences when trusting God and allowing faith to develop. We don't have to earn God's love or approval by doing anything at all. Evaluating one's achievements is not the basis of God's love. God loves us and values us simply because we are made in God's image.
We are told in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them." I like the Message paraphrase of the same verse. It says, "Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." Indeed, we are special and dear to God's heart. The next time we allow our judgmental attitude to affect our self-worth, we need to remember it's not about our circumstances or performance that determines our value. It's all about what Jesus did and who are when we follow him. Paul tells us, "Your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4) Selah! (Think on that!)