Youth : Popularity

What is popularity? And why do so many young people do everything (literally) to be popular at school, at work, among a group of friends, and (shockingly!) in the church?

A popular young girl is loved, admired, and followed by all or by the majority. All are interested in her life, speak of her, are curious about what goes on in her life, basically, she is the center of attention, everything she does becomes a trend.
That type of treatment that people give her is the dream of every young insecure girl. She seeks that love, respect, and admiration of people and when she receives a little bit of it, she does everything to maintain this “status”.
She sells her personality in return for acceptance, hands over her convictions and thoughts for fear of not being more interesting or attractive to people. And by surrendering these things, the frustration comes for having to be someone she is not, for having to think, act, and speak in a way that does not come from her personality—all for an outside acceptance.

She feels poor.

How to rescue this value that seems so miserable?

I use a very powerful weapon:

“Do all you can to get the full approval of God, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, but teaches (lives) correctly the truth of the gospel.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Running after the approval of others is like chasing after the wind. Running after the approval of God is to value yourself.

In the midst of this relentless pursuit to please God we become people of value, we become people we are not, because He makes us become valuable, unique, incomparable, real people!

I’m not saying it’s not good to be accepted or admired by someone at school, work, home or church. It is a pleasure to be part of a group. We like that. But this acceptance, that is popularity, for those who prioritize pleasing God in everything, it’s just a bonus and not a goal to be achieved.