Learning why you matter helps you grasp the true meaning of life
Learning why you matter puts life in a different perspective. Unfortunately, most people are well advanced in age by the time they unravel this important truth.
The messages from TV, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, and movies set up ideals of what we're supposed to be, what we're supposed to strive for. They try to dictate to us why we matter in the world.
Don't be fooled. You don't matter just because you have a spouse. You don't matter because you have an important job. You certainly don't matter because you have a lot of money. You don't matter because you happen to be drop-dead gorgeous.
No, it's something different from all that--very different. It took me half a lifetime to sort through all the "shoulds." So let's take a blunt, no-excuses look at one of life's most profound truths: why you matter.
Why you matter: Other people
Over the course of your life, there are many people you'll want to matter to: your parents, certain teachers, friends and relatives, your boss, a spouse, the list goes on and on. That's natural and good.
But notice what they all have in common: They're people. The sad truth is that we live in a fallen world, which means our relationships with people change. We may swear we'll stay friends with somebody the rest of our life, but that rarely happens.
Friendships come and go; that's a fact of life. Some people live in a dysfunctional family. Jobs also come and go. You may have heard me speak elsewhere on this site about being laid off from a job where the vice president said I had been doing terrific work in my position, but when layoffs were ordered due to a reduction in force, my terrific work counted for nothing. I was just another number.
As humans, we get our hopes up. But we need to remember that other people are, well, only human. We are too. They'll disappoint us. We'll disappoint them. Understanding that is part of being a grown-up.
I believe in doing your best work. I believe in treating others with kindness and respect. We all want people to like us. The truth, though, is that you may matter to somebody for a while, then things change and you don't matter as much to them. You know it's the same about people who matter to you. Every human relationship isn't forever. We keep moving on.
Why you matter: God
One of the reasons www.inspiration-for-singles.com is a Christian site is because I don't believe you can get through the single life without God. If you don't believe that, I probably can't convince you otherwise.
Something God gives us that human beings never can is dependability. God sticks with you not only through this life, but through all eternity. Forever.
God also has something for you that you won't find anywhere else: unfailing, unconditional love. The Bible says he will never leave you nor forsake you. Never, ever.
You matter so much to God that he will never
walk out on you or give up on you.
That's a mind-boggling truth, but we
naturally wonder, "Why?" Personally, I know I'm not so lovable as to
deserve devotion like that. What is there about you and me that makes
us matter so much to God?
I'm
not sure our minds are capable of comprehending that mystery, although
the answer probably lies in God's very nature. "God is love," the
apostle John tells us. When you epitomize love, as God does, when you
exude love, when your very existence is described as love, it seems
logical you would want someone to lavish that love on. God, in his
unexplainable wisdom, chose to create human beings.
If
you, like me, choose to receive God's love, you know it's so
overwhelming it just about knocks you over. I can't describe it to you
if you have refused it or not accepted it yet, but it finally explains
to you why Christians act so goofy. We're in love. Not just a nice,
warm, earthly love, but a love so powerful that when you grab hold of
it, you can put up with just about any nasty, bad circumstance in life
as long as you've got this astounding love to see you through it.
Why you matter: Eternity
God created you to love him and enjoy him forever. There's also good evidence that many things will be mended in heaven, including those relationships that faltered here on earth.
In parting, I'd like to say don't pour your whole life and hopes into accomplishments. As great as yours may be, they're not why you matter. And some of you may be like me. My achievements have rarely matched my aspirations. You and I matter despite our lack of achievements.
You don't matter because of money or things you can buy with it, and on the other hand, you do matter if you don't have money and lots of nice things. In spite of what the world tells us, our true worth is not determined by our stuff.
If you believe you don't matter, it's time to renew your relationship with God. If you don't have a relationship with God, it's never too late to start one. It's the one thing you haven't tried, and when it happens, then you'll finally understand why you matter.
Take this assurance to bed with you tonight and think about it when you wake up tomorrow morning. You matter because you are loved deeply and personally by God. He's the defining purpose of life. He provides meaning. He's what matters.
