On Props

In the Gospel of Ruth, Carolyn Custis James mentions how Naomi and Ruth are without the normal props that most women had in their society--husband, children, and/or wealth that gave them status and security. I'd quote it here for you, but I loaned my copy of the book out and can't find the quote online. I was struck by her use of the term "prop". Consider Random House's simple definition of the term.

Prop: a person or thing serving as a support or stay

Naomi and Ruth didn't have any people (like husband or children) or things (like money or land) serving as a support in their lives. But the Sovereign God of the Universe showed Himself the only prop a person needs in their story. We all know the great way that story ends.

But for the purposes of this blog, I'd like to ponder for a moment the props (or lack thereof) in our own lives as women. Some of us have many props--and we often look to them to give our lives identity and meaning. Maybe it's your husband, your children, your church ministry, or your status in your community. Others of us have no props--we don't have husband, kids, money, or status--and we are lost without the conventional supports our society uses to assign meaning to our lives.

My question is what is your prop? And if you have props, do you see past them to find your identity in Christ Himself? Or do your props seem so vital to your identity that you can't imagine life without them?

If you don't have the normal props, how do you view yourself? Do you feel lost, in a holding pattern, waiting on God to give your life something in which to find your identity?

I've mentioned in other blog posts that I've been studying through Ephesians, and it has convicted me daily on this issue. Where does my life get its meaning? Where do I find my security and sense of purpose? Can I walk confidently into a room simply because I know who I am in Christ? Or do I need clothes, money, jewelry, husband, well-behaved children, or some other prop to give me confidence?

The Apostle Paul spends a long time in Ephesians 1 telling us the long list of spiritual benefits we have in Christ. Then he ends the chapter praying that we would know the great power at work in us who believe, which is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. If you are struggling with your identity (either because you have too many props in your life or because you have too few), I encourage you to take some time studying Ephesians 1 and praying through who you are in Christ. He is the Prop. And through Him, we have EVERY spiritual blessing that is possible (Ephesians 1:3). All other props will inevitably fail you.