“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
― George Bernard Shaw
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
― George Bernard Shaw
I was in high school when one of my teachers told me his twenty-something daughter was finding herself. Being the wise and compassionate person that I was (not) at that age, I snorted and asked, “Why’d she lose herself to begin with?”
There’s a touch of reality in that, though. We all go through phases – sometimes more than one – when we’re figuring out the kind of person we want to be. This happens through both little and big choices that we make. Do I want to be the kind of person who lies to keep the peace? Do I want to be the kind of person who gives up when things get hard?
That’s not about finding ourselves, though. It’s also not about creating ourselves.
It’s about discovering who God created us to be.
Do I want to be someone who lies to keep the peace? No.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices. (Colossians 3:9, ESV)
For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. (2 Corinthians 8:21, ESV)
Do I want to be someone who gives up when life is hard? No.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing…Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:2-4 & 12, ESV)
Who did God create us to be?
We all have different personalities, vocations, interests, and skills.
We are all, though, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).
We are created in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2:10).
As His creation, we should fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Which leads us to Mark 12:30-31. “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ … ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Who did God create us to be? Who did He create you to be?
Someone who loves Him and who loves others. Life isn’t about finding yourself, and it’s not about creating yourself. It’s about walking in faithfulness to the Savior who brought us out of darkness and into the light, the very One by whom all things were created and in whom all creation is held together (Colossians 1:13-17).
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