Self-Esteem Versus Self-Worth The passionate pursuit of selfishness has lead to a culture that cries out, Look at me,

pay attention to me! The emergence of social sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube has poured gas on the flame of the self-centered. While not all the material on these sites is selfish, the mountain of self-indulgent information cannot be ignored. Television reality shows have become all the rage because of societys need to escape their own unbalanced, unfulfilling world. Shouldnt self-esteem be at an all-time high with all this attention on self? Yet statistics show that one person commits suicide every 16.1 minutes. Why does it seem all this focus on self-esteem isnt working? The fact is many are searching for real self-worth and not self-esteem. Self-Esteem vs. Self-Worth Self-esteem is really self-impression Self-worth is the sense of internal value Self-esteem is defined by external peer pressure Self-worth is defined by a divine acceptance Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself Self-worth is what God says about you When self-esteem is the focus, people rush to keep up with the latest fads, fashions, and with the Jones. People are constantly changing their appearance based upon cultural climates and not based upon an understanding of their worth. 2 CENTRAL NEEDS THAT DEFINE US True identity is found by understanding the most basic need of humanity. Every person on earth longs for a sense of self-worth. Everyone wants to feel accepted and valued as an individual. Self-worth requires meeting two basic needs: 1. Significance Having Clarity of Purpose Understanding Personal Value Being Able to Positively Impact Others Building Stronger Relationships 2. Security Unconditional Love is Expressed Unending Acceptance is Experienced Unfailing Protection is Ensured Unlimited Provisions Enjoyed

While men primarily need significance and women primarily need security, both are vital to all. Christian Psychologist, Dr. Larry Crabb stated, People pursue irresponsible ways of living as a means of defending against feelings of insignificance and insecurity. 3 STAGES OF SELF-UNDERSTANDING 1. Self-Worth Self-worth is the proper expression for understanding ones identify. When one truly understands his self-worth, he trusts that God will meet his basic human needs of Significance and Security. 2. Self-Will Self-will is often lauded in todays culture. It is, however, the human state where mans basic needs for significance and security are met with power and pleasure. Sigmond Freud held an assumption that there are two basic drives behind human behavior; power and pleasure. In a sense, he is right. Power and pleasure is the aim of a life without God. Without God power replaces significance and security is traded for pleasure. This is the self-willed life. 3. Self-Destruction Inevitably the long-term consequences of a life motivated by self-will leads to ruin. We have all watched as people who appeared to have it all become self-wreaking machines. Self-wreaking involves two major factors; violence and immorality. Two of the major problems in our country today are violence and immorality. Violence is the outcome of an insatiable thirst for power. If pleasure is the highest goal, then immorality is the ultimate result. Sodom and Gomorrah are the ultimate example of selfwreaking. Their pervasive violence and immorality ushered in the judgment of God. 2 TRUTHS THAT ESTABLISH SELF-WORTH 1. I am Significant Because God Knows Me 1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. (Psalm 139:1-4) It is one thing to say God knows everything, but how powerful it is to say, God knows me. If God knows me, then He defines me. He knows the deepest possibilities in me. He knows my funny quirks and strange eccentricities. I dont have to find myself. I must find Him! He knows me.

A person who believes this will possess an immovable identity. Jesus said we do not have to fear for He knows the number of hairs on our head. God knows me and I am valuable to Him. 2. I am Secure Because God is With Me 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven [in good times], thou art there: if I make my bed in hell [in bad times], behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea [in times of quick transition];10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. [God sustainsnot my circumstances] 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:712) God is with me, so I am safe! He is behind me. He is before me. He is upon me. My identity is safe in Him. There is no place or situation that I can go through that will alter my worth to God. What security! God will not leave me. Thats who I am! Many of the motivational and prosperity preachers of the day teach that God only wants the best for us. They define best as shiny new cars, expensive clothes, million dollar homes, and top paying jobs. God wants you to have the best, but let Him define what is best. The message is clear; there is no place far enough, bad enough, deep enough, high enough, remote enough, and dark enough that God will not be there! My significance and security is not based upon my checkbook, my car, my house, or my spouse. My identity is what God says about me and not what my peers or friends say. You are who God made you. He has a plan for your life. Find your identity in Him!The passionate pursuit of selfishness has lead to a culture that cries out, Look at me, pay attention to me! The emergence of social sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube has poured gas on the flame of the self-centered. While not all the material on these sites is selfish, the mountain of self-indulgent information cannot be ignored. Television reality shows have become all the rage because of societys need to escape their own unbalanced, unfulfilling world. Shouldnt self-esteem be at an all-time high with all this attention on self? Yet statistics show that one person commits suicide every 16.1 minutes. Why does it seem all this focus on self-esteem isnt working? The fact is many are searching for real self-worth and not self-esteem.

Self-Esteem vs. Self-Worth

Self-esteem is really self-impression Self-worth is the sense of internal value Self-esteem is defined by external peer pressure Self-worth is defined by a divine acceptance Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself Self-worth is what God says about you

When self-esteem is the focus, people rush to keep up with the latest fads, fashions, and with the Jones. People are constantly changing their appearance based upon cultural climates and not based upon an understanding of their worth.

2 CENTRAL NEEDS THAT DEFINE US

True identity is found by understanding the most basic need of humanity. Every person on earth longs for a sense of self-worth. Everyone wants to feel accepted and valued as an individual. Self-worth requires meeting two basic needs:

1. Significance
Having Clarity of Purpose Understanding Personal Value Being Able to Positively Impact Others Building Stronger Relationships

2. Security
Unconditional Love is Expressed Unending Acceptance is Experienced Unfailing Protection is Ensured Unlimited Provisions Enjoyed

While men primarily need significance and women primarily need security, both are vital to all. Christian Psychologist, Dr. Larry Crabb stated, People pursue irresponsible ways of living as a means of defending against feelings of insignificance and insecurity.

3 STAGES OF SELF-UNDERSTANDING
1. Self-Worth
Self-worth is the proper expression for understanding ones identify. When one truly understands his self-worth, he trusts that God will meet his basic human needs of Significance and Security.

2. Self-Will
Self-will is often lauded in todays culture. It is, however, the human state where mans basic needs for significance and security are met with power and pleasure. Sigmond Freud held an assumption that there are two basic drives behind human behavior; power and pleasure. In a sense, he is right. Power and pleasure is the aim of a life without God. Without God power replaces significance and security is traded for pleasure. This is the self-willed life.

3. Self-Destruction
Inevitably the long-term consequences of a life motived by self-will lead to ruin. We have all watched as people who appeared to have it all become self-wreaking machines. Self-wreaking involves two major factors; violence and immorality. Two of the major problems in our country today are violence and immorality. Violence is the outcome of an insatiable thirst for power. If pleasure is the highest goal, then immorality is the ultimate result. Sodom and Gomorrah are the ultimate example of selfwreaking. Their pervasive violence and immorality ushered in the judgment of God.

2 TRUTHS THAT ESTABLISH SELF-WORTH

1. I am Significant Because God Knows Me
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. (Psalm 139:1-4)
1

It is one thing to say God knows everything, but how powerful it is to say, God knows me. If God knows me, then He defines me. He knows the deepest possibilities in me. He knows my funny quirks and strange eccentricities. I dont have to find myself. I must find Him! He knows me. A person who believes this will possess an immovable identity. Jesus said we do not have to fear for He knows the number of hairs on our head. God knows me and I am valuable to Him.

2. I am Secure Because God is With Me

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven [in good times], thou art there: if I make my bed in hell [in bad times], behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea [in times of quick transition];10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. [God sustainsnot my circumstances] 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:7-12)
5

God is with me, so I am safe! He is behind me. He is before me. He is upon me. My identity is safe in Him. There is no place or situation that I can go through that will alter my worth to God. What security! God will not leave me. Thats who I am!

Many of the motivational and prosperity preachers of the day teach that God only wants the best for us. They define best as shiny new cars, expensive clothes, million dollar homes, and top paying jobs. God wants you to have the best, but let Him define what is best.

The message is clear; there is no place far enough, bad enough, deep enough, high enough, remote enough, and dark enough that God will not be there! My significance and security is not based upon my checkbook, my car, my house, or my spouse. My identity is what God says about me and not what my peers or friends say. You are who God made you. He has a plan for your life. Find your identity in Him!