Who am I, Really?

- By Rick Carder

When I was young, many years ago, I struggle to know what I was good at and even more uncertain about the rest of life. Perhaps you are the same way. It certainly is that not a matter of age, because even in my 50’s, I sometimes question my contribution. I know that I have strengths and abilities but my weaknesses seem to be more clearly visible these days.

Once while attending a minister’s gathering the facilitator asked the question, "Who are you?" He was asking a group of us in the room to describe who we are but not because of what we do or the title of our job but by defining our identity through the eyes of God. The speaker stated,  "Often we define who we are based on the role that we serve." He continued, "We need to describe ourselves without using titles or defining roles like parent or husband or even your job title."


It took a little thinking by the majority of us in the room to answer the question of who are we? We sat quietly for just a moment waiting for some brave soul to give the first answer. We mused to each other that if someone else got it wrong at least we would have a shot at the right answer.

Since then it has forced me to gain a greater understanding of who I really am. Some of the answers that surfaced were a tremendous testimony of God’s grace and love as well as his Truth being profoundly influential in our lives. "I am a child of God," said one. Another stated, "I am better than I once was." Definitions surfaced in abstract ways that differed from my thinking. They seemed to focus on our true identify in Christ, not as tokens that we can present to him but truly see ourselves through the eyes of Christ.


What I learned that day was that I took a great deal of pride in my accomplishments and in my abilities that did not always point to God’s grace and truth in my life. Often our definitions are selfish and even model non-Christian ideas. I learned that God’s grace and his plan for my life was to bring him glory and not for me alone.

I reflected on the time that I went through the Bible study series, "The Purpose-Driven Life" that became the best seller book around the idea that it is "not about you." Rick Warren quote.

In his bestselling book "The Purpose-Driven Life," megachurch pastor and author Rick Warren enumerates five reasons why people are on this earth. We're here: 1) For God's pleasure; 2) For God's family; 3) To become like Christ; To serve God; 5) For a mission. It's when we realize these purposes for our existence that we'll start living, says Warren. Read more at Rick Warren summary remarks.

As we continue to define ourselves by what we do or by our accomplishments we diminish the opportunity for God to not only be glorified but for his plan to be stamped on our lives. I was challenged to think more about my purpose and God’s plan than my individual success.

I was challenged to think more about my purpose and God's plan than my individual success.

Jossy with Merle

Merle was the kind of person who seemed to know herself very well. She didn't define himself by her jobs or even that she authored many books. She lived 111 years. Today she would have turned 112 and she would have impressed even the richest person or most successful person. It was not her accomplishments that defined her but by how she lived.

If you ever met Merle you would know what I am saying. Read more about he here: Merle Phillips, Aged to Perfection.

Take a blank sheet of paper and write your name. Then take each letter of your name and begin to write down definitions of who you are that are not defined by what you do or the roles that you play in life. In other words, do not state that you are a husband or a father but rather what are the attributes that you can use that may even point to God’s work in your life.

Here are mine:
R - Righteous (because of the grace of Christ).
I - Imitator (of God’s love).
C - Christ’s ambassador (& evangelist).
K - Kingdom-minded.