Have you ever sat and thought about what motivates men to do some of the things men do? I mean, think about it. Some men (ok, most men) spend a large part of their time trying to impress people they don’t even like! How insane does that sound?
Seriously, we buy the latest and greatest to keep up with our neighbor or a coworker just because we don’t want to be seen as a lesser man. Or, we try to one up those same people by having a bigger better vacation experience with tons of pictures to prove it. Believe me, I fell into this trap, and still catch these tendencies coming back into my thought process. But have you ever really spent some time thinking about why men do these things? We’re seeking validation from other people or through the collection of things, which is an endless task without the desired results. In fact, many times this cycle can prove destructive, financially or otherwise.
So why do we put so much emphasis on other people’s opinions of us? That’s what the enemy or the “world” tell us success is, right? To paraphrase a quote that’s been widely used, “he who dies with the most toys, wins.” Really? This is the motto of men in our world. Well, truth be told, this is the work of the enemy in the world. 1 John 2:16 says, “For everything in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- comes not of the Father but from the world.” The enemy’s lies seek to destroy us and steal our joy. This is where Satan can get to men the easiest… pride.
This was a serious battle for me before I began my walk in faith with the Father. That’s when true growth and maturity was able to take hold. Andyou know what? All that anxiety and pressure I felt by trying to get validation from other people (again, people I didn’t even care for in most cases) began to fade. How you ask? By the grace and love of the Father, who showed me where my true validation comes from. I began to aspire to please God the Father and glorify him and him only. The same is true for you. He loves us unconditionally, with no strings attached. We don’t need the latest and greatest technology, car, or job title to earn his love and validation. All we have to do is seek him, surrender to him, and we’re free.
Wow, what a powerful feeling… freedom, validation, and love from the Father! We are son’s of God, validated by Him, successful because of Him, and all we are and have is because of Him. It’s that easy, the search for true validation is over. It’s not endless.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a work in progress, but I pray to the Father daily and seek him constantly to continue to fight. His validation, grace, and mercy are beautiful and I love the words he bestowed upon his son Jesus as recorded in 2 Peter 1:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” This is the one and only true validation that we as men need. He loves us, cheers for us, and is faithful to us… unconditionally. It only takes us walking with him, trusting in him and seeking him.
The “world” is a bottomless pit that only provides endless longing. The Father quenches our thirst and gives us endurance. Seek him and experience true validation and freedom. I promise you, it’s the freedom you seek!
Have a great week, Brothers! Stand strong.
Mike
