There’s this kid I know who told me something that stuck with me. He said he gets trolled at school for wearing clothes from Walmart—even if the clothes are nice. Why? Because everyone else is decked out in branded, expensive stuff. He knows his parents can’t afford all that, so he feels left out.
That broke my heart. But let’s be honest—it’s not just kids in school who do this. Adults do it too. And worse, it happens in the Church.
“Those the Only Shoes You Got?”
I remember walking into church once and someone looked at my shoes and said, “Are those the only ones you have?”
I had no idea how to respond—because yeah, at the time, that was all I had.
Another time, a Christian friend warned me that if I lived in North America, and attended certain churches, people would judge me for the car I drove. His comment was about North America, but it’s true everywhere.
Apparently, image is everything—even in sanctuaries.
It’s funny (and sad): the moment people find out about your degrees, your job title, or your connections, suddenly you’re “worth talking to.” Before that? Crickets.
Identity in Christ ≠ Approval from People
This is the world we live in. It tries to measure your worth by your shoes, your clothes, your social status—even your Instagram aesthetic. But as Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
You will be tempted to conform. To play the game, dress a certain way just to be noticed and name-drop just to be accepted.
But do you really want to live in the vortex of their approval?
Or do you want to walk in your identity in Christ?
“Some Trust in Chariots…”
People will tell you:
“Go talk to that guy—he’s well connected.”
“Be seen with them—it’ll help you.”
But Psalm 20:7 says:
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
We don’t hustle for favor—we walk in it.
We don’t chase clout—we carry Christ.
Let that sink in.
Status-Seeking Isn’t New, But It Is Ugly
It’s always been like this. In university, my wife saw how some students wouldn’t associate with Indians. Even some Indians raised in the West didn’t want to be seen with “Indian Indians.” They didn’t want to be tagged.
We crave status, and we avoid anything that might bring it down.
Even friendships get filtered through: “Will this raise or lower my value?”
And if you’re popular, let’s be real—people will come flocking. Not because they love you, but because you boost their social score.
Be Humble Anyway
But what did Paul say?
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves…”
Jesus had it all—equality with God—but didn’t cling to it. He emptied Himself. He took the lowest seat.
That’s the way of the Kingdom.
So whether you’re wearing Walmart or Gucci, whether your car is new or noisy, whether people like your Instagram or scroll right past—choose humility.
Talk to the person no one talks to. Hang out with people society sidelines.
Don’t measure people by what they wear—value them for who they are.
There’s also a story of a Nobel Prize-winning professor who was notoriously hard to contact—not because he was arrogant, but because he simply didn’t own a smartphone. He was content, focused, and unconcerned with keeping up appearances.
I’ve always found that fascinating.
There’s a strange kind of freedom in not caring about what others think. When you stop trying to impress everyone and just start living for the One who already loves you, the pressure fades. The approval you were chasing doesn’t matter anymore.
And that’s when you’re free to really live.
Final Word
If someone won’t befriend you because of your clothes, your car, or your job—that’s not your person.
The real ones? The ones who love you for who you are in Christ?
Keep them close. Those friendships are gold.
So here’s the challenge:
Don’t feed off other people’s value. And don’t let them feed off yours.
Live humble. Love big. And walk like Jesus did—with your crown in your heart, not on your head.
Leave a Reply