The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him saying, "Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!" Psalm 52:6-7
What do others think of me?
Why do I so often ask this question? My worry about meeting everyone else's expectations has been a catalyst that drives me to perfection. Maybe if I can impress them, I will be worth something...
The fallacy with this kind of thinking is that we can never please everyone. In the end, the catalyst - the drive for perfection - becomes a cage that keeps us from true contentment. It becomes a chain that keeps us from the joy God intends.
The lesson I have struggled to learn is not so much worrying about "what" others think, but "who" is thinking it. If I seek to live a life that pleases the world, contentment is forever elusive. But concerning myself with the opinion of the righteous is a good thing. It keeps me from sin; it directs me to the Father.
Lord, when I consider my life, I am often saddened. Have I gained my strength by making You my stronghold? What would the righteous say of me? In my adolescence, I felt an insult directed at another was a good thing. For just a moment, my imperfection could be overshadowed by someone else's. Unfortunately, this practice carried over into adulthood. But we never succeed by tearing down another. You are the only source of real strength.
Be my stronghold. I long to trust in You. Let me be remembered as a man who sought to build and not destroy.