June 30, 2013

Don't want to be important...just BE, important!



Abraham Maslow estimated only 2% of all people would achieve self-actualization, or in layman's terms, reach their full potential.

My guess is  98% of people are selfish, self-righteous, self-contained, self-promoting, self-sustained - you get the idea. We have become absorbed with self. We are materialistic, greedy, and competitive. I see it every day. People posting 100s of pictures of themselves, their houses and cars, all day on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., all the while giving God the glory. I am not saying God isn’t in the blessing business because He is. But is it really for God or is it you attempting to be important? Quite frankly, it’s disturbing how many people are seeking validation from the outside world. I know, because I've been there. Gabrielle Union said it perfectly when she recently said, “We live in a world that rewards pretending.”

Genesis 1:26 tells us that God made mankind in His own image and likeness. We are a reflection of God. Everything He is, we already are. We don’t have to try so hard to want to be important. We can just BE, and if that includes important, glory to God. We don’t have to play ourselves up to be big in the limelight. We already are light. If we could see that, we could take the focus off of ourselves.

Maslow says we become actualized when we reach a high level of self-fulfillment based on certain needs which are met. We meet those needs according to our motivations. In the 1970s, an eight level was adapted to his hierarchy - helping others to achieve self-actualization. We become fulfilled when we look outside of ourselves as a service to humanity. The bible tells us that Jesus came to serve, not be served (Matt 20:28). By taking the focus off of ourselves, we have no choice but to focus on others – helping, encouraging, uplifting, and truly being happy for one another. As I look around me at the world and inside myself to search my own soul, I leave you with this question – What is really motivating us?

June 13, 2013