Significance

Quote :

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

I have just returned from watching my youngster play in a rugby match. Have you ever noticed how it is mostly people watching that is done when parents congregate at these functions? We all want significance. I think we are made that way.

Different people do different things to be noticed, and others have given up thinking they are worth being noticed.... but there is a bad feeling about that... both for them and those who pick up on it.

Got me thinking when I read this verse that I believe we are all made with a need to feel significant, but we push ourselves forward out of pride... and you see the constant status shuffling... subtle but there.

We are made in the image of God. We are already significant. Jesus understood that. He was at rest. What did He have to prove? Nothing at all. He is God Almighty Incarnate. No matter what came His way He understood His significance to His Father.

He died so that we might know the same.

True. How to live it out.

A good word.

Aristotle said: The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

We are God's art. He is in us and that makes us significant.

+1 QV and Kim. Beautiful thoughts.

Yes. Beautiful thought Kim. True.

This thread reminds me of a further discussion I had with my youngster about ambition. He thought ambition was good. It was what got things done.

It is no wonder he thinks this. Ambition is the way of the world today. Easily seen in the pulpit too....

I started thinking on the difference between having significance in this world today and having ambition.

Ambition is always selfish. Significance denotes value and legacy and integrity. Ambition is linked to empire building - top dog who lords over all.

Ambition is linked to personal drive and career success. Significance is linked to a calling and purpose that enhances the lives of others.

Ambition is hay and stubble. It will not stand the test of time. What we accomplish outside of what God has called us to do will fall away. Only God's calling on our lives when fulfilled will stand through eternity. Too many - even preachers - put far too much empahsis on what can be seen and too little on what cannot be immediately seen - prayer and communion with God. E M Bounds in his classic book "Power through Prayer" continually urges those who would lead in the Church to spend more time in prayer than with any other thing.

Prayer will bring forth and reveal significance. We are already made significant. Prayer will help us live it out.

This word I read it say Important in effect or meaning. God inside make important yes. I like think He see me big even feel small

He sees you big Newborn no matter how small the world wants to make you feel. You and Him together are a majority... no matter where you are...

I found this here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The Significance Principle

The basic, driving force of human behavior is the desire for acceptance, understanding, appreciation, and recognition. The need for significance is such a powerful aspect of our personality that it ­motivates us to identify with success and just as powerfully motivates us to avoid failure and conflict.

As soon as you entered the world, you screamed and cried. In essence, you said: “Hey, somebody needs to take care of me now.” When someone wrapped you in a warm blanket and held you securely, you calmed down and added, “Now there, that’s more like it.” In the days to follow you repeated many such messages hundreds, even thousands of times.

What prompted you during your first moments of life to communicate so powerfully? The significance principle. Instinctively you felt a need, a right, to be held in high regard. You were searching for someone to tell you: “I think you’re important,” or “You have value,” or “Your needs are legitimate.” You wanted to feel significant and you responded to the actions of those around you who recognized your need.

What would you think about a person who, at the moment of your birth, set you aside with no hugs, no tenderness, no care-taking, and then said, “As soon as you accomplish something, I’ll treat you with significance . . . but not one moment sooner.” You’d cry foul! That’s no way to treat an infant. In fact, such calloused behavior would be labeled abusive, even criminal.

Inherent in every life is a God-given value and worth. At the moment life begins, our Creator gifts individuals with significance. Instinctively you know you deserve it, and at some level of awareness you know others do too.