The Search for Significance is a book which offers a biblical and psychological approach to personal development. It suggests that our quest for personal success, status, beauty and wealth will not bring happiness, and so the book offers an alternate route to happiness. This route follows a learning curve, offering individuals the biblical reasons to base their self worth on the love, acceptance and forgiveness of Christ. (McGee, R, 1994)
Four factors in the failing route to happiness are discussed and biblical alternatives are offered in a healing process which is part of the Christian journey:
The false belief which brings on ‘The Performance Trap’ is “I must meet certain standards to feel good about myself”.
The effects of this fear of failure are perfectionism, avoiding risk-taking, anger, resentment, anxiety, fear, pride, depression, low motivation, sexual dysfunction and chemical dependency.
The Biblically based evidence to overcome this fear of failure is Justification, i.e. the belief that we are placed in right standing before God, through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, since this paid the cost of our sins.
The false belief which brings on ‘The Approval Addict’ is “I must be approved by certain others to feel good about myself”.
The effects of this fear of rejection anger, resentment, hostility, being easy manipulated, co-dependency, avoiding people, control and depression.
To overcome this false belief the sense of reconciliation, the bringing of enemies into friendship, is offered as a way forward.
The false belief which brings on ‘The Blame Game’ is “Those who fail are unworthy of love and deserve to be punished”.
The effects of this fear of punishment are self-induced punishment, bitterness, passivity and the punishing of others.
The biblical answer to this false belief is the notion of propitiation, that is the truth that Christ died on the cross in our place, taking upon himself the wrath of God which humanity deserved, thus revealing the love of God for us.
The false belief which brings on ‘Shame’ is “I am what I am; I cannot change; I am hopeless”.
The effects of shame are a sense of inferiority, habitually destructive behaviour, self-pity, passivity, isolation, withdrawal, a loss of creativity, co-dependent relationships and despising our appearance.
Through the Biblical answer of regeneration, that is the impartation of new life, we become alive in Christ, rather than dead in our sin.
