How to distinguish between ‘Who and what I am’
Scripture reading: Matthew 20:20-28. Text: “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am'”. Exodus 3:l4/a; and: “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” (wrote apostle Paul.) 1 Corinthians l5:l0/a. Let the seemingly unimportant difference between “I AM WHO I AM” and “I AM WHAT I AM” open our eyes and mind so we can see and realize how significant a small difference can become.
THE CALCULATION OF JAMES AND JOHN AND ALSO THEIR MOTHER’S. See Matthew. 20:20
What Mrs. Zebedee and her two sons, James and John, had been asking from Jesus, namely let the Master see to it that her two sons will sit on the right and left hand of the Lord in his Kingdom, was typical and human. Probably the other disciples had had the same idea in their minds.
What is unique in this story? Our Lord’s answer: “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave…” Matthew 20:26-27.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE SOMEBODY AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO DO SOMETHING.
Before we go any further please check your dreams, desires and aspirations. Who or what did you want to be? Does not every child dream of a happy and successful life admired by many? What were your dreams? Who were your idols? Do we not all wish to be famous, wealthy, powerful and popular?
If you are an adult please think over, how much effort have you made to become important, influential and well known? Psychologists and behavior scientists say that often the bickering, criticizing and objecting attitude is nothing else but a camouflaged aspiration to become greater than someone really is (Do you think: Who am I and should I put up with everything?).
Most of us suffer from one of the two abnormal assumptions: “I am great,” meaning the person over-evaluates himself or herself or is being conceited; or “I am nothing or nobody,” which is when somebody underestimates his or her abilities or is having inferiority feelings.
Being caught between these extreme cases, the word of God can come to our help. The question: “WHO I AM” is divine prerogative! It is the privilege of the Almighty to state: “I AM WHO I AM.” For us humans, Apostle Paul spelled out the right approach: “…by grace of God I am what I am.” See our text.
The misleading conception is this: First, I wish to become somebody and after I have achieved that, I will render a magnificent service, showing people what I can do. However, if the people will not let me become somebody, I will make no effort to achieve something great. This is the wrong assumption.
On the other hand, if we follow Christ and let ourselves be spiritually motivated, then first we wish to do something – bear fruits, witness to the resurrected Lord, serve our fellow men or become an instrument in God’s hand – then the challenging issue will be: what can I do for others, as well as, how can I do even more?
I read a statement: “There are not so many heroes anymore, rather celebrities.” (Please forgive me if I am critical, I simply quoted another person’s opinion). Like any other statement or observation, this one is not 100 percent true either.
The distinction between: “I will do my best” and “look who I am” has become blurry, and the right order between “I will be helpful” and “I will be well known” might have been turned around. No one can find out who he or she really is, unless he or she has responded to the question: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIFE?
WHO YOU ARE and WHAT YOU ARE in your own eyes or in the eyes of the public and, at last, but not least, in the eyes of God is not ours to decide. For the right evaluation Jesus offered the unmistakable standard: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:16.