What Scoreboard Measures Your Self-Worth?
What Scoreboard Measures Your Self-Worth?
…reflections from Henri Nouwen
What measures your self-worth?
Our culture fixates on finding self-worth in places that ultimately don't satisfy us. Too many people crash and burn because they invest in things they thought would make them happy but ultimately don’t.
I’d like to point to a different source of happiness and success.
Henri Nouwen on Self-Worth
In "Show Me the Way", Henri Nouwen addresses self-worth saying...
When we start being too impressed by the results of our work, we slowly come to the erroneous conviction that life is one large scoreboard where someone is listing the points to measure our worth. And before we are fully aware of it, we have sold our soul to the many grade-givers...
We are intelligent because someone gives us a high-grade.
We are helpful because someone says thanks.
We are likable because someone likes us.
And we are important because someone considers us indispensable.
In short, we are worthwhile because we have successes.
Success and Self-Worth
If my self-worth depends on my success then I'm in trouble.
It's a double-edged sword. If I have no success then I believe that I have no self-worth. If self-worth is what I need then I am mistakenly driven to succeed no matter what the cost, only to find my “success” empty.
How many people run on this hamster wheel? I'm afraid it's astronomical and the weight is crushing.
Self-worth is a Gift Not a Game
At some point we have to wise up and stop playing the game. We have to realize that self-worth is not a game won by scoring points. Self-worth is a gift given by a loving God.
I'd like to give you permission to walk off the field right now. Shut off the scoreboard and take the trophy. It's yours without ever playing the game! God declares you worthy simply because you are his child and his Son has given his life to prove it. Jesus put all the points you will ever need on the scoreboard.
Questions:
What scoreboard are you using to measure your worth?
What has to happen before you can feel good about your life?
Learn more about self-worth in the book Healing the Hurts of Your Past.
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