The Performance Trap

THE LIE: Find meaning, purpose, life apart from God

One expression: I must meet certain standards to feel good about myself.

ReviewTHE LIE: Self-Worth = Performance + Others’ Opinions

In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns:

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

World Christianity

Term Self-esteem Christ-esteem

Based on THE Lie God

Source Man’s performance God’s performance

Worth =Performance + Other’s

OpinionWhat God says (e.g.,

Scripture)

Mankind is A “god” ... or evilLost, in darkness, and

valued

Truly human whenAchieve success / Become center of

universe

Quit trying to be God, and live as a

dependent creature to God (i.e., repentance &

faith)

Focus is onMe, me, me ... think MORE about yourself

God & others ... think LESS about yourself

New IdentityThe moment you trust Christ, many wonderful things happen to you:

•All your sins are forgiven: past, present, and future (Col. 2:13–14).

•You become a child of God (John 1:12; Rom. 8:15).

•You receive eternal life (John 5:24).

•You are delivered from Satan’s domain and transferred into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13).

•Christ comes to dwell within you (Col. 1:27; Rev. 3:20).

•You become a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).

•You are declared righteous by God (2 Cor. 5:21).

•You enter into a love relationship with God (1 John 4:9–11).

•You are accepted by God (Col. 1:19–22)

Fear of Failure

Base self-worth on their ability to accomplish a goal.

Thus, failure is a threat and is totally unacceptable to them.

A Test

1. Because of fear, I often avoid participating in certain activities.

2. When I sense that I might experience failure in some important area, I become nervous and anxious.

3. I worry.

4. I have unexplained anxiety.

5. I am a perfectionist.

6. I am compelled to justify my mistakes.

7. There are certain areas in which I feel I must succeed.

8. I become depressed when I fail.

9. I become angry with people who interfere with my attempts to succeed and, as a result, make me appear incompetent.

10. I am self-critical.

Effects of the Fear of Failure

• Perfectionism

• Avoidance of Risks

• Anger and Resentment

• Pride

• Depression

• Low Motivation

• Addiction to Success

• Identity Entagled with Success

• Sense of Hopelessness

• Anger at Ourselves and God

• Depression

• Low Motivation

Hope

“He changes rivers into a wilderness, and springs of water into a thirsty ground; a fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He changes a wilderness into a pool of water, and a dry land into springs of water; and there He makes the hungry to dwell, so that they may establish an inhabited city.” - Psalm 107:33-36