Psalm 8:3-8 “Discovering Who I Am”
INTRODUCTION
We have discovered that success is not a satisfactory goal—at least success in the world’s terms. We have ample demonstrations of how it is not only lonely at the time it is also empty.
We want more for our lives. We want our lives to mean something. In the very core of our being, we desire significance.
If we are to attain significance in our lives, we need to take some basic steps in our lives. The first step toward a life of significance is discovering who we are.
DEFINE OURSELVES: ACTIONS
The most common method of identifying ourselves is by what we do. It usually isn’t very long into a conversation before someone asks us what we do, and usually we don’t hesitate to tell him or her.
Recently retired people struggle to cope with retirement, in part, because they can no longer define themselves by what they do. People who become disabled have similar struggles.
Though this is a popular way to identify ourselves, it is not a very good way, because it is so unstable. What we do can change or can be taken away from us.
DEFINE OURSELVES: RELATIONSHIPS
We are created for relationships. John Donne’s poem that states, “No man is an island,” is completely correct. We cannot live alone and one of the ways that we identify ourselves is by the other people, family and friends who are in our lives.
This is a more stable method of identifying who we are, but it is still open to change. Relationships may end and those whom we love may be taken from us.
DEFINE OURSELVES: GOD
The psalmist discovers and identifies himself in a different, unique way. He identifies himself in his relationship with God.
The psalmist sees himself and all of humankind as the crown of God’s creation. The writer of Genesis proclaims that humankind was created in God’s own image.
God has given humankind dominion over all of creation. In other words, we are stewards, or managers of God’s creation.
The scripture proclaims that God loves us. God both loves and forgives us.
God does not stop with simple forgiveness. God adopts us in to the family of God and gives us new life.
These truths are the foundation of a significant life. They enable us to live lives that reflect God’s love, serve God and significantly touch the lives of others.
CONCLUSION
God has given us all that we need to live significant lives. God has loved and forgiven us. God has made us God’s family. God has called us to be servants of God.
Discovering who we are enables us to live significant lives.
Amen
