The Christian and self-esteem
What is self-esteem?
Many people may ask the question of why they were created...what's their purpose in the earth and does it even matter that they even exist.The emptiness that one may feel after achieving the so-called ladder of success and then finding out later that the success was not all that it was cracked up to be... can be quite overwhelming. Success without Jesus is like a glass of water...it quenches the thirst for awhile, but more and more is needed.Created in the image of God has nothing to do with race, creed, color or gender, but God is Spirit (John4:24) and they that worship him must do so in spirit and in truth. Man has three parts...he is spirit (contacts God) he has a soul (the part of him that reasons and thinks) and he has a body (the part of him that contacts the physical).
What is self-esteem?
The dictionary meaning for self-esteem is first of all the belief in oneself. The first and foremost of reasons why a person should believe in themselves is because God believes in them. God believes in them because He gave gifts to men...and His gifts and callings are irrevocable ( )...that means he doesn't take them back. The very reason that he gave gifts talents and abilities to people was because he believed in their ability to use them effectively.He also knew that before he gave the gifts...( Ephesians) that mistakes were going to be made concerning them,but in spite of the mistakes...He promises not to take them ( ). So the question is... if God believes in people...then certainly people can believe in people and especially a person can and should believe in themselves. Listed below are a number of reasons why people do not believe in themselves...
People may not believe in themselves because of:
1. Past failures
2. Belief in others opinions about oneself
3. Fear of something or someone
4. Physical appearance
5. Lack of family support
6. Guilt
7. Not knowing God loves them
clip art from clipartheaven.com
Past Failures
You are not what you did!
All of us have done some things in our past that we wish we could go back in time and repair,but since this is not possible we must learn to forgive ourselves and forget the past and move on. The Apostle Paul says in Philippians the third chapter...brethren I count not myself to have apprehended (arrived)...but this one thing I do...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching toward the things which are before...I press toward the mark for the prize. In this instance the mark is a healthy and balanced self-esteem, and the prize being a more fulfilling life because of ones self perception.
Belief in others opinions about oneself
You are not who or what other people say you are!
Matthew chapter number sixteen and verses thirteen and fourteen read...when Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said ,some say that thou art John the Baptist: some Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets...
Everyone wants to be loved and made to feel special...and everyone wants to be appreciated and respected. It is a fact that everyone that crosses your path including family and friends may not think highly of you...but in reality their opinion of you does not mean thats who you really are. Many people have fallen into the trap of becoming what other people whom they respect have said about them...and whether conscience of that fact or no...have become a by-product of other peoples opinion. People who do not know who they really are may become like chameleon's and change to fit into their environment to hide or gain others approval. An unbalanced self-esteem is hard work because you can never rest and relax around others, but your constantly working to gain others acceptance. People can be around you and never really know you just as the disciples of Jesus proves in the above text. Jesus asked them all who do men say that I the son of man am? and opinions varied...but Jesus did not allow the opinion of others to manipulate him into becoming who they thought he was. Remember peoples opinions of you will vary...but knowing who you really are will help keep self-esteem balanced. Even though Jesus's disciples were constantly around him...they really did not know him because only one...Simon Peter said that you are the Christ...the son of the living God.Jesus told him that flesh and blood did not reveal who he was because flesh and blood can never reveal who a person really is. Only God our creator knows who we really are and knows what we can accomplish when others lose faith in us.
Fear of something or someone
The trap of indecision
People with self-esteem issues may find themselves in the trap of indecision...by that I mean a part of them wants to advance, but another part of them continues to make excuses as to why they cannot or should not,and so they wrestle with themselves and never do anything because of fear. Procrastination becomes there comfort zone because they tell themselves..." they are" going to do... whatever it is, but in reality it never gets done. James chapter number one says that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways and instability is a companion to low self-esteem because failure in any area strips a persons confidence in that area... causing them to fear ever trying again. What's the answer? to be single minded.Single mindedness allows one to focus on the task at hand not allowing any room for distraction. This allows a greater chance for success... and when it is achieved...self-esteem in that area rises.
Great Stuff on Amazon
Physical Appearance
Love your neighbor as yourself...
Millions of dollars are spent each year on cosmetic surgery. There is nothing wrong with bettering oneself, but a majority of people simply do not like themselves.They do not like the way that they look... and because of that...their self-esteem suffers. The bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made so remember there is no one else like you...you are special and unique and so why not allow that persona to flow toward others?
Lack of family support
The first family
The first family can be found in the book of Genesis...Adam and Eve. Self-esteem was at an all time low when they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit.The lack of family support can also be seen when Adam no longer supported his wife Eve...but blamed her instead. He blames God and his wife by saying the woman you gave me was the reason the fruit was eaten.When family support is missing...self-esteem suffers and as a result families suffer. Love covers a multitude of faults and sin and more and more families need to practice this principle so that there can be a balance in the area of self-esteem.
Guilt
Jesus will never condemn you!
John 3:17 says that God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world...but that the world through him might be saved.People may condemn you... but God never will because he loves us.
