“What status one has in this life is unimportant. In truth, we are only what we are in the eyes of God.” (St. Francis de Sales)
These are words meant to lead us into freedom—the freedom our Father has given us. How vain it is to rely on external things as though they determined our worth as persons! What dependencies we fall into when, instead of looking to God and letting Him determine our worth, we seek the praise of the world and adopt its standards. This applies to the religious sphere as well.
We are only what we are before God. We are as He sees us. Only our Father can see a person and their heart to its deepest depths. Often enough, all human standards are shattered, for the glory of God and His nature often remain hidden from the wise and prudent of this world, while simple people—whose hearts are not filled with self-praise—are able to understand God more easily (cf. Mt 11:25).
What can we take away from the words of the wise Francis de Sales?
Let us be busy doing everything with our eyes on the Lord and in service to others, and let us not think too much about ourselves. If we have promised our Lord to serve Him and do so sincerely each day, then that is enough—no matter what our status in life may be. When we receive praise, let us thank the Lord and attribute the good to Him. When people speak ill of us, let us pray for them, but let us not allow their words to penetrate our hearts.
It will always help us to live with our eyes fixed on the Lord and to walk our path day by day in a trusting relationship with Him. What our Father thinks of us is essential. Everything else must take second place.