Self Esteem- Should a Christian Seek It?

Posted on Mar 18, 2011

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

This Teen Bible Study Guide will help you nd that clear sense of personal identity
— a proper assessment of your worth - your self-esteem.

Introduction
What is self-esteem?

e Cambridge Dictionary de nes

self esteem as: “Belief and
con dence in your own ability
and value.”

Self-esteem, by its very words

—‘esteeming self ’—o en results in
either arrogance and superiority (for those who think they deserve a lot
of esteem) or self-consciousness and self-loathing (for those who think
they deserve little esteem).
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automatically give a sense of worth to their children by loving and
adoring them unconditionally. And while a parent’s love is a great start,
it isn’t all we need.

“It is o en said that to have a ful lling life, three essentials are required:
a clear sense of personal identity, a deep sense of faith and meaning, and
a strong sense of purpose and mission…If you don’t answer the most
important questions of your life, then you will be gullible for any crazy
idea(s) that you encounter” (Vertical ought Editorial June ).

e purpose of this study is to help you nd that ‘clear sense of personal

identity’—a proper assessment of your worth. ose who simply try to
build their own self-esteem nd it a shallow and temporary endeavor.
Defeats and failure, successes and triumphs can make self-esteem a
roller coaster. Having a proper sense of your own personal identity
however, leads to true inner con dence and stability. But how do you
get your own personal identity? If you have ever been around someone
who is conceited, arrogant or self-righteous, you probably realize these
are not the kinds of ‘identities’ you want to portray. And, while good
grooming, wearing nice clothes and being as attractive as possible help,
they aren’t the basis for true inner con dence and a healthy self-image.
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Are we to think well of ourselves?

Galatians : For all the law is ful lled in one word, even in this: “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ephesians : - “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their

own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated
his own esh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does
the church.”

. Can someone who doesn’t love himself or herself love anyone else? Is
it therefore wrong to love ourselves?

Comment: While some seem to love themselves too much, others have
di culty even liking themselves. Some may be putting up a front of
con dence—bullies, clowns, showo s, the boisterous, bad, or cynical, as
well as many other types—while deep down they don’t really like who
they are. Loving others as ourselves means that we don’t try to hurt
them anymore than we would try to hurt ourselves and, instead, that we
treat them as well as we treat ourselves.

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 Timothy : - …In the last days…men will be lovers of themselves,
lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers…

Comment: e idea that we need “self ” esteem has caused some to be

completely self-absorbed and self-centered—‘lovers of themselves’—just
as Paul prophesied.

. In what way do people show they are ‘lovers of themselves’?

Psalms : For in his own eyes he atters himself too much to detect or
hate his sin.

. What happens when people are self-centered?

James : For where envy and self-seeking exist,

exist, confusion and every
evil thing are there.

Comment: Don’t you nd that self-seeking people—those consumed

with their opinions, their looks, their pursuits, their hobbies, their sports
and accomplishments—are quite boring and annoying?

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 Romans : ;For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is
among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,
but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Philippians : Let nothing be done through sel sh ambition or conceit,

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Comment: Strong’s concordance states that “lowliness of mind” is:

“having a humble opinion of one’s self.” Some think that being humble
means being weak, but Christ—who is our model for humility—had
immense power to heal, teach, forgive sins, resurrect from the dead and
judge. He spoke openly and honestly and berated the religious leaders
for their hypocrisy, even turning over the money-changers’ tables in the
Temple. His humility was not in acting falsely modest but in His
servitude to mankind, eventually giving His very life for us.

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