Who are you? What defines you? This can be a complicated question as the answer will often determine what we do or the groups we are connected to. When I ask someone, who they are, the response most often is what they do. The conversation goes something like this. Who are you? The reply I usually receive is that I work for (fill in the blank). The problem is that I did not ask what they do but who they are. So, I ask again, who are you? This time the answer is that I am a father, a husband, a brother, and a grandfather. But that answer does not define us because our relationships do not define us. When asked again, the response is that I am a Christian or I belong to Church X.
We can be defined as Christian, but what does that mean? Is it a title we wear? Is it the denomination I belong to? Is it the church I go to? Does it define who we are? Being a part of a church, a denomination, a specific family, or a particular job is not bad. They are essential aspects of our life, but we are not defined by our job, work, family origin, or religious affiliation. If the job changes, we join another church, or we have family issues, the definition of who we are should not change. Therefore, to determine who we are, we must look deeper.
An excellent place to start is God’s example! I have always been amazed at God’s response to Moses. We read in Exodus 33:18 that Moses asked God to reveal Himself. “Let me see your glory!” In other words, show me who you are! In God’s response, God did not show His power. He showed His character.
In Exodus 34:6-7, we see God’s response. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands,forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Look at how God defines Himself. He is merciful and gracious. He is slow to anger. He is abounding in love and faithfulness. And finally, He is forgiving, but He is also just. These qualities define Him. That speaks to who He is. Essentially, He is defined by His character, not His power or position.
So, who are you? Who am I? Am I a man of integrity? How do I act when I believe no one will know what I have done? Do I hold anger or pride deep in my heart? Jesus stated, “… what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and that defiles a person” (Matthew 15:18). Do you see that? What comes out of the heart defiles us. What is in the heart will define how we act and respond to the issues we face in life.
Another point to be made is whether we are guilty of loving some people and not others. Do we judge others by ethnicity, education, family origin, religious affiliation, or financial acumen? The problem with this is that it comes from a spirit of pride. Are we forgiving? Or do we hold grudges? Do we seek revenge on the person that has wronged us? Do the actions of another dictate our actions or what we do?
The problem is that we can be a part of a great church, but we can judge others in unhealthy ways, especially those outside our specific church. We can hold high office but struggle with our integrity. We can be connected to family and friends but struggle with pride and insecurities.
The bottom line is this. We are defined not by what we do but by the condition of our hearts! This is most critical because we will respond from our heart’s capacity. Our heart is what determines our actions, our motives, and our feelings. What comes from the heart defines us.
So, how are you doing? What defines you today? Is it your job, church, family, political party, or other external things? One way to determine this might be to evaluate how you respond when your job is impacted. How do you feel when your family has an issue? What about your church? What is your response when the pastor leaves, or you experience other problems in the church? When these things happen, do you feel different about who you are? When we allow the heart to define us, we will have stability and a proven character that will stand the test of time.
As you consider this and pray, where have you allowed external things to define you? When we recognize these things repent and seek to develop a heart that truly defines who we are. It may not be easy for some, but it is worth it.
I would love to hear back from you. Let me know what you think about this article. Also, please share this with others.
Life on the edge 