Self Esteem, Part 2

A good and healthy self-esteem creates joy and happiness for the soul. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1Timothy 4:12). “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye...” (1 Peter 3:14). If one has poor self-esteem, they cannot enjoy a merry heart, rejoicing evermore, being the example that God wants him to be nor have the happiness that follows persecution for righteousness sake. Only those who have and practice the kind of self-love and respect that God commands can enjoy the spiritual blessings of the soul.

Unfortunately, there are those people who abuse self-esteem and think more highly of themselves than they ought to, and this is wrong. In Proverbs 26:12 we read, “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.” Also, Jesus says in Matthew 23:12, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased (to make low); and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” In addition, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith...Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:3 and 16).

James tells us (James 4:16), “But now ye rejoice in your boasting all such rejoicing is evil.” These verses give us the warnings concerning self-conceit. To avoid this danger, think of others first. Be the servant that God wants you to be, and as a result, you will be helping others to help themselves. Remember, those who don’t help others are always focused on self!

Finally, how is our self-esteem built up? It is built up by doing what God says to do. For example, "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" (Romans 14:19). Also, "Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification" (Romans 15:2). Do you see where the focus is? On others! In 1 Corinthians 8:1 we read, “...love edifieth.”

Dear reader, love builds up self-esteem. If we go about doing all the good we can do and no ill whatsoever, we will develop the self-esteem that God wants us to have. We are taught in Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupt communications proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” And in Colossians 2:7 we are to be “...abounding therein with thanksgiving.” These are only some of the ways in which our self-esteem can be strengthened. Without the wisdom of God, our self-esteem will focus on self and not on others.

In this article we have learned that esteem means to have respect or conceit towards some object. Secondly, we learned that self-esteem involves having the proper balance of love for self. Without this love for self, we cannot love others nor be saved. Furthermore, self-esteem brings its rewards --joy, happiness and a good attitude. Unfortunately, not all have the self-esteem that God would want and desire us to have. Some think more highly of self than they ought to and others think far less of self than they should. Finally, our self-esteem can be nourished by the edification of others and the Word of God. May our self-esteem be governed by the wisdom from above and not of the world.

Donald Underwood
Linda Vista, CA.