Identity
Recently, there was a headline that was published that said: “Stephen King and his wife donated $1.2 million to a genealogical society.” After reading the headline Stephen king stated that the gift was not his idea but his wife’s idea and that his wife has a name: Tabitha King.
Tabitha King said this in response; “In recent media coverage of a gift that my husband and I made to the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, we became Stephen king and his wife. Wife is a relationship or status. It is not an identity.
I’m sure when Tabitha read this headline she thought to herself, “I have a name.” Society has taught us that everything needs a label, but as the bible demonstrates for us in Genesis it is important to label a thing correctly. It is God who does that. The creator names the thing he created. We typically identify ourselves by groupings/ categories, roles, titles, social and relational statuses. Most often the first things we share with others about ourselves are the labels that we or society has given us but I want to challenge us to identify ourselves the way God identifies us when he created us and for us not to give anyone else that power.
What makes up YOUR personal identity? What is it comprised of? For some of us it is being/becoming a wife, For others, it's being a mom, for some its career, our identity is tied to productivity and in always being busy (so we can tell people that were booked and busy).
We often ask ppl where do you work, what area do you live in, and whats your sign as if these things are conclusory. These things may help you know a person better but they are certainly not defining factors on who somebody really is. They merely describe something.
Our identity is important because it’s our base- it’s the belief system out of which we make choices. It reveals to us how we feel about how God sees us. If We believe we are loved unconditionally, we tend to think more highly of ourselves and make choices that reflect that.
When you know who you are – you don’t look to titles, roles, and relational status for your identity because you understand that all those things are temporary- and lasting fulfillment that comes from God is what’s eternal. Looking for fulfillment in those things can be an idol because what you’re really saying is I believe that something other than God can satisfy me.
Your identity should be rooted in:
1) Who you belong to- You are a child of God. First and foremost. Your confidence comes from who you belong to. Confidence that you are loved, and that you can do anything that God empowers you to do. The knowing that you’re perfect because he made you.
2. Your spiritual gifts & purpose- what gifts has God given you for the world and what/who has he called you to be or do? How can you serve others?
3. Passion and personality-what is your natural bend for? What things interest you?
These things are who you are. NOT status, titles, and roles. Be focused on perfecting those. Become the best you, refine who God called you to be. These are the parts of your identity that are real and true. Not the labels of this world.
When you see yourself accurately, in view of all that God made you to be and who he called you to be there no way you can live beneath the calling on your life. To live as anything less than what God said is to be less than he has called you to be.