Continuing on in our “Consumed” Series …

I don’t know about your family, but my kids are all gearing up for the start of the school year. Thankfully my two oldest sons are out of the rat race of middle and high school, where the pressures to be a part of the cool crowd are stronger than the odor emanating from a middle school boy’s gym locker! All joking aside, even as adults, we never really escape that strong pressure.

We all want to be liked, accepted and have a certain level of status in life.

No one wants to be labeled a Loser, a Nobody or simply unimportant. And sometimes we even marry in hopes of being someone—gaining status.

Perhaps, we’ve become consumed with our spouse providing …

• A great job that allows for an unlimited spending allowance
• An attractive appearance, so we can feel proud to enter a room with him or her
• A compliment to our personality (e.g. We’re shy, our spouse is outgoing; We’re indecisive, our spouse is in control, etc.)
• The ability to bolster our sagging self-esteem—a job that is never-winning battle!
• A marriage partner, because all our friends are married, so … “it’s the thing to do” or “be”

If you find yourself in any of these scenarios, then you’re probably headed for a messy meltdown in your marriage sooner rather than later.

I have to say, I’ve fallen prey to almost all of these consuming motivations from time to time with my husband (all except for the “unlimited spending allowance!” Not on a pastor’s salary!)

And although these scenarios aren’t all bad, when they consume us, they provide temporary comfort at best, and at their worst, are not what God wants for us. 

God designed us to find our worth—our status—in Him.

Yes, when we place our faith in Christ, He provides our “status.” Here’s just one example of what He provides …

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” – Galatians 3:28-29 (NIV)

 

So the next time you’re consumed with improving your current status, don’t look to your spouse (or anyone else for that matter)!  

Look to Christ and remember just how precious you are in His eyes.  

Check back on Wednesday when our “Consumed” topic will be “Are You Consumed with Status Quo?”

For further Bible Verses on your status as a believer in Christ, click here.
*Romans 8:17

Photo credit by KJGarbutt (Flickr)