What Is Your Statement Of Achievement?
When I was working as the Fitness Director at a Country Club, I had the opportunity to design the fitness center, exercise room, and babysitting area for the club. I have always been so proud of the fitness center. Three walls of it were made of windows and the sunrises as you broke a sweat on the treadmill were beautiful. Those sunrises were my favorite part about getting to work at 6 a.m.
I got news that the country club is taking on a new renovation that includes my precious fitness center. They are building a brand-new fitness center and turning the one I designed into an adult dining area. My heart sank when I heard this news. I have not worked at the country club for eight years, and yet I still feel a sense of belonging to it. I tossed and turned last night in bed; I realized I was upset about this new renovation because I saw the fitness center I designed as a big accomplishment in my life. It was something I did that many people enjoyed for years as they worked to get healthy, and it was being replaced with a dining area.
I’m embarrassed to say that I had a bit of a pity party the next day. My confidence level plummeted as I told my husband that I may never accomplish anything great in my life. I will just be an average woman that stays home and raises children. I was not satisfied with that, I wanted more. I had lost sight of the gift God has given me through the fact that I am able to stay home and raise my children. He has given me a very important job and I didn’t think it was enough. What gift has God given you that you are overlooking and think is not enough?
I thought long and hard about my reaction to this situation. The accomplishments I saw were worldly accomplishments. They were exactly the accomplishments Paul had achieved in his life and he told the Philippians they were useless to him. In Philippians 3:5 and 6, Paul listed his excellent credentials and accomplishments. He had the standard upbringing, nationality, family background, inheritance, orthodoxy, activity, education, and morality. He had accomplishments anyone in his time would have been impressed by. Yet, Paul said these accomplishments meant nothing to him. His accomplishments did not bring him to Christ; only because of God’s grace was he the man he was.
As I read these words, I realized, I’m putting my confidence in flesh instead of in Christ (Philippians 3:3). I’m putting my identity in things I have done instead of what God did for me. My credentials, accomplishments, or reputation cannot gain my salvation; only through my faith in Christ can I be saved.
A woman I once knew lived in a very large house with only her husband. She was asked why she needed such a large house, and she replied by saying, “It is my statement of achievement.” Years ago, when I heard her say this, I made a mental note to never let my statement of achievement be a worldly object. Here I am and I have forgotten the mental note I put in my memory bank so many years ago. I’m placing my achievement on something I have or can do.
Paul says that everything he has gained in his life is garbage compared to his salvation that only Christ can bring him. Nothing else matters.
There is nothing I can do that will perfect me here on earth. I can either die trying to be perfect, or I can rest in the all-surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus and His grace that is freely given to me.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10
“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:31
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
Digging Deeper:
Read Philippians 3:1-14
What fulfills your sense of accomplishment?
Where do you feel your life is lacking because you haven’t achieved in a certain way?
Can you believe in Jesus Christ and yourself by placing your achievements solely on Him and who He made you to be?