Have you ever called time-out in your life to consider what you think of you? Everyone has opinions, (and sometimes very strong ones), of just about everything including music, restaurants, churches, clothes and other people. But it is unusual for individuals to call time-out and consider their opinion of themselves.

Christian counselor and author, Dr. Larry  Crabb, suggests that we all do indeed possess an opinion of ourselves that is part of our internal makeup. Dr. Crabb refers to this self opinion as "Personal Worth".  Crabb holds that this opinion of self guides not only how we feel about ourselves, but it also influences how we respond to life situations. This Personal Worth, claims Crabb, is made-up of two distinct parts:

            1. Our sense of Security and;

            2. Our sense of Significance

Security is a basic need of every human. Observe the activities of people and you will observe energy spent in searching for security, stability and sureness in life. And interestingly, how secure individuals feel about themselves strongly determines how they respond to others. Countless people are on a quest for security in finances, health, marriage relationships and employment. Actually the greatest impact of recent terrorist attacks on America is the alarming perceived threat to security. That is the real, often unspoken, fear that gnaws at everyone to some degree. But that's the topic for another article.

Given that everyone has this vital need for security, there is, in my opinion, a predictable cycle that follows a loss of security. This cycle goes like this: When a person lacks a sense of security, that person begins to lack fulfillment. When fulfillment is scarce, then that person loses hope. The end result therefore becomes despair. These insecure ones may wear masks of confidence, but down deep they feel fractures of despair.

So what then is next? The despairing person responds from despair by attempting to find security, but alas this security seems fleeting and just out of reach. Predictably these insecure people lamely attempt to replace this underlying loss of security with "stuff " from other sources, such as expensive possessions or harmful relationships. The spiritual enemy Satan, then conveniently offers a buffet of security fillers that are tantalizing and appealing, but inevitably never satisfy this gnawing hunger for security. Consequently there are countless people who feel like Swiss cheese, afflicted with little empty holes of insecurities which they attempt to fill with possessions, sin, addictions or obsessions. Regrettably however, these temporal fillings can't fill the holes. Not a pretty picture, huh? Read on. Things really do get brighter.


Significance couples with security to complete  Crabb's notion of "Self Worth". Every person longs for a sense of purpose and distinction in life. We all desire to know, "Am I making a difference" or "Do I really matter ". I believe the greatest enemy of those in old age is not illness or poor health, but the fear of losing significance, feeling out of the mainstream; of not really mattering. This global longing for significance reveals a human drama where so many, spend so much time and so much energy, searching for so much significance. It's a never ending chase for that elusive feeling of finally "Making It".

Now dear reader, as you look at the title of this essay, you may be wondering what this discussion has to do with the Message of Jesus of Nazareth. After all this is a message uttered over two thousand years ago in another time, on another continent, to a different set of people. Let me assert that a serious and circumspect examination of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the timelessly life-changing impact it can have on believers, can offer insecure and insignificant members of humanity those very same two ingredients of Self Worth; security and significance.

In fact I believe that no-one can ever truly be secure or significant without personally knowing Jesus Christ. Do I sound dogmatic? Let me explain:

First, the Gospel equips the believer with all that is necessary to be secure. It is because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that you and I can absolutely know, regardless of what missiles life hurls at us, we are always, always, always secure. Our Lord refers to this as Eternal Life, an existence that is immeasurably good, unshakable and totally secure. This is a permanent security that transcends time and space and flows into eternity. Thus in every defined sense of the word, Christians are, and always will be secure. And when we begin to grow in recognizing this iron-clad truth it is then that those darts of insecurity will lamely fall at our feet.

The Apostle Paul embraced this truth when he said the following: 


"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither 
angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39 NIV


Paul covered the total universe of all possible security stealers. He knew, as we should know, that despite any and all difficult circumstances, ultimately the outcome is secure. I challenge you to examine this impenetrable and encapsulating blanket of security that covers Christ's followers. Paul describes this security as a "peace that passes all human comprehension."

Guess what? This same Gospel that offers us security likewise offers significance. At the moment Our Lord gave us Eternal Life, He also gave us Abundant Life. Examine His Message and you will find that He not only wants us to have a secure eternity, He wants us to have a significant life, right here, right now. Here's the Message:


"The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life,
and have it abundantly." John 10:10


We are all familiar with the eternality of the Gospel, but we can easily overlook Jesus Christ's intention for His followers to have a fulfilled, abundant life while here on this planet. Therein lays significance! 

Therefore when the world is looking for security and significance, they should be able to see it in the followers of Jesus Christ. Peter knew this truth full well when he advised believers as follows:


....Always be prepared to give an answer 
to everyone who asks you
for the reason of the hope that you have." I Peter 3:15b


So, let me suggest that you consider sitting down and take a reading on your "Personal Worth". Do you feel that you have security, and do you feel your life is making a difference? If you have placed your faith in the Person of Jesus Christ, His liberating Gospel can give you both security and significance. You can live a fulfilled, abundant life here and now while you look forward to an eternal life in His Kingdom. That's both security and significance. However if you haven't placed your faith in Him, you will never quite grasp either.

Bill Tanzey

©2002 Bible Center Church

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