Since childhood, we are often taught to pursue dreams, seek success, and strive to be the best. That is not wrong. Yet without realizing it, the world pushes us to make ourselves the center of everything. We become busy asking: “What do I get? What makes me comfortable? How do others see me?” In truth, true life is not about me, but about God.
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). This is a radical calling. To follow Christ means to stop placing ourselves at the center and to make Christ the center of everything. The world may say, “Put yourself first,” but the gospel says, “Put God above all else.”
Paul also affirmed something similar: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36). This verse makes it clear that life does not come from our ambitions, but from God. We are only stewards, not owners of this life. Everything we have is only entrusted to us, and its ultimate purpose is to glorify Him.
But honestly, it is not easy to live with this awareness. Our ego often resists. We want praise, we want recognition, we want respect. Yet when we make life only about ourselves, we quickly become disappointed. A self-centered life produces emptiness, but a God-centered life produces true joy.
Look at Jesus. He, who is the Son of God, was willing to empty Himself and take the form of a servant (Philippians 2:6-7). If even Jesus did not place Himself at the center, why do we keep trying to make ourselves the center of everything? The more we learn to place Christ at the center of our lives, the more we discover the true meaning of life.
Practically, life is not about me means learning to say:
- It is not about what I want, but what the Lord desires.
- It is not about how people see me, but how God sees my heart.
- It is not about my ambitions, but about His calling.
As we live this out, we will walk more lightly. We no longer need to prove ourselves to the world, because our identity is in Christ. We no longer chase human approval, because we have already been accepted by the Father.
Today, let us stop making ourselves the center. This life is not about me, not about you, but about Him. And only when Christ becomes the center do our lives find true peace and purpose.
Lord, teach me to stop making myself the center of everything. Help me to look to You and make You the highest purpose in my life. Let every step I take always glorify You, not myself. Amen.
