“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” [1]
The message was finished and I had gone to the back of the auditorium to greet the congregation as they were departing the building. One woman, a counsellor in our community, was moving toward me with a clear sense of deliberation. Obviously, she had something to say, and she was going to say it. “Pastor,” she began, “you’re just wrong. If we don’t feel good about ourselves, we’ll never be able to serve God effectively. We have to feel good about ourselves.”
I had stressed in the message that much of the modern educational effort to teach students “self-esteem” was producing a generation of people ill-equipped to function in the world. I had said that students, even when unable to read or to perform simple mathematic calculations, felt “good” about themselves. I argued that modern education efforts were guilty of child abuse through failure to equip youth for life. And the churches were equally guilty of failure to call people to holiness, choosing instead to emphasise the need for people to feel good about themselves.
Some years ago, a commentator on the western cultural scene, wrote, “(W)e have seen a broad shift from a culture of humility to the culture of what you might call the Big Me, from a culture that encouraged people to think humbly of themselves to a culture that encourages people to see themselves as the center of the universe.” [2] We aren’t terribly concerned what reality may be; what matters to us is our perception. What we imagine takes precedence over everything else, even truth.
Is it not odd that nowhere in the Bible are we taught to “feel good about ourselves?” Nowhere are we instructed to build up our self-esteem. Despite the contemporary emphasis on building self-esteem, even from the pulpits of the nation, there exists not a single statement intended to guide us into what is considered the necessary task of building “self-esteem.” We are, however, taught to esteem others, to take pride in the accomplishments and honours others receive, to rejoice in the promotion of others. How strange that despite the emphasis from the contemporary cult of “self-esteem” that there exists no biblical support for promoting self-esteem. Instead, we meet rather pointed commands to avoid thinking highly of oneself!
Listening to the experts of the day, “self-esteem” must be the most precious, the most vital aspect of a proper Christian worldview. Yet the Word of God is strangely silent concerning this self-imaging so obviously prized in contemporary society. Psychologists and pseudo-theologians notwithstanding, we need to take a realistic view of ourselves in light of the Word.
Many have tried to defend a psychology of self-esteem by appealing to the criminal system in America. In a 2002 New York Times’ article, “Deflating Self-Esteem’s Role in Society’s Ills,” Erica Goode explained how a simple self-esteem test served to debunk the secular psychological theory that the cause of crime in America was directly related to the problem of low-self-esteem. She wrote, “Researchers gave tests of self-esteem and narcissism to 63 men serving prison sentences for rape, murder, assault or armed robbery in Massachusetts and California.
“They compared the prisoners’ scores to those found in other studies for groups of men the same age, including Vietnam veterans, college students, dentists, recreational dart throwers and problem drinkers. The violent offenders, Dr. Bushman said, did not differ from the other men in self-esteem. But they scored much higher than the other men on narcissism.” [3]
In this article, Goode wrote that “high self-esteem … was positively correlated with racist attitudes, drunken driving and other risky behaviours. …Students with high self-esteem were likely to explain away their failures with excuses.” [4]
Self-esteem is a dreadful malady infecting the congregations of our Lord in this day. It is well past time that we address this evil
SELF-ESTEEM STANDS OPPOSED TO A GODLY CHRISTIAN WALK – After watching a television program that spoke about rebellious youth, a husband said to his wife, “What a mess! Where did our generation go wrong?” The wife calmly answered, “We had children.” I wish I could tell you that the exaggerated emphasis on self-esteem was something new, something seen only in this present generation, but the problem is as old as sin. From the time of the fall of our first parents, unregenerate people have sought to exalt themselves at the expense of others.
An opinion writer in the New York Post was told by a psychologist “that parents and their kids are experiencing more stress than ever over past two decades and that it’s ‘directly connected to social media and the need for “likes” and “retweets.”’” [5] This reveals parents so insecure that they depend on faceless others who affirm them via Facebook and Twitter. These parents are so infected with their own search for significance, a drive for self-esteem, that they cannot succeed through their own efforts.
The context of that conversation was a discussion of the college entrance scandal of recent days. The writer continued by quoting the psychologist with whom she spoke, “At least some of this is because people are used to instant gratification. Whether it’s Googling something from a smartphone, the on-demand and instant nature of the media we consume or the immediate feedback from social media, it’s all about the results. Parents do not seem to have the patience or the fortitude to make their kids work for what they want.” [6] Let me simply observe that the tragic result of this drive for self-esteem is sacrificing children as parents communicate that they can’t accept average as acceptable.
In a previous church which I served as overseer, on one occasion a woman approached me to relate a woeful tale of just how terrible she was. According to her sorrowful account she was a horrible person and a miserable example of a follower of the Saviour. She related a lamentable tale of her wretched life, how she was a cipher and all her accomplishments were really nothing. Her language was self-abasing, indicating that she didn’t think highly of herself at all.
All this may have sounded quite humble to the uninitiated. However, I had heard this tale before, and I had also listened to the tone of her voice. She communicated quite effectively that she was actually rather proud of her humility! Her recitation ended abruptly when I pointedly stated, “Get rid of your pride.” This woman protested vigorously that she wasn’t proud; she insisted that she was, in fact, exceptionally humble. I was left with the distinct impression that she was proud of her humility! Despite her protestations to the contrary, I was adamant that for the past several minutes since she had approached me, she had invested considerable energy in futile attempts to convince me of the reality of and authenticity of her self-abasement.
Her efforts were a means of boasting of how humble she was; she was exceptionally proud of her humility! In truth, her self-abasement smacked of pride in herself; nevertheless, her self-esteem was elevated into the stratosphere—she was in desperate need of of a megadose of humility. This was not an unusual situation, since we have trained our youth for several generations that they are the centre of their universe. Reality usually hits with a vengeance when we reach adulthood and discover that the world does not revolve around us.
Followers of the Master need to grapple with the admonition delivered by the Apostle when he wrote, “By the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” [ROMANS 12:3]. Can it really be a problem that Christians think more highly of themselves than they should? Tragically, I deem the answer to this question to be a resounding “Yes!” This seems especially true in contemporary society.
Our society, the cultural milieu in which we exist, teaches us to exalt ourselves. And that attitude, inculcated from elementary school days until we complete our educational training, is brought into the congregations of our Lord without modification. We are convinced that our judgement is perfect while that of fellow believers is flawed. We are offended when others hold a different perspective, convincing ourselves that they are in error. In fact, we seldom know what any opposition view may actually be because we are so absorbed in our own view of life. Even a cursory review of Facebook makes the accuracy of this statement evident! On top of this, we hold to the position that failure to adopt our view will lead to disaster for the congregation!
Later, in this same chapter, Paul provides sound counsel meant to equip the followers of Christ to ensure a godly walk throughout the days of our pilgrimage in this life. He writes, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight” [ROMANS 12:16]. There is wise counsel! “Never be wise in your own sight.”
We who profess to follow the Risen Saviour would be well advised to heed the counsel of the Psalmist, who has written:
“O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
[PSALM 131:1-2]
It should be obvious that if this Psalm is to be held as authoritative, self-exaltation, pride of place, the attitude of superiority in our relationship with God is not an honourable characteristic that should be sought or fostered in our relationship with the LORD God.
Contemporary pulpits are remiss through failure to provide instruction from passages such as this that is found in Isaiah’s prophecy.
“Thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
‘I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”
[ISAIAH 57:15]
It is obvious that the passage is encouraging individuals who pursue righteousness by pointing to the intimacy they will experience because they honour the Living God. Surely, each follower of the Risen Saviour longs for intimacy with God! Surely, each of us who share these services want to know that we are welcomed always to come into the presence of the True and Living God.
We witness a similar admonition in the Psalms as David writes:
“Though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.”
[PSALM 138:6]
From verses such as these, it should be quite obvious that the LORD God esteems humility—true humility, not some ersatz effort masquerading as humility! Humility doesn’t invest time trying to work up the proper feeling, nor does humility require us to tell others how humble we are. Humility is apparent from the manner in which we live.
We who name the Name of the Risen Christ must always bear in mind that He is God. We are not God; we are not even righteous! Whatever righteousness we may claim is imputed by the Saviour to those He has redeemed. Despite what should be obvious, the world continues to train us to imagine that we are able to evaluate the Living God, to adjudge Him and His character rather than recognising our own fallen condition. Too often, we have convinced ourselves that we are able to assess the Lord’s worth, even as we exalt ourselves in our own eyes.
Christ-followers are called to live righteous lives. We who follow the Son of God are expected to choose to be godly. We are expected to model our lives after Him whom we call “Father.” We are to pattern our life after God. This becomes obvious from even a cursory review of multiple passages of the Word. Paul admonished Christians in EPHESIANS 5:1-4, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
Study God as He has revealed Himself in the Word, and then model your life after Him. The life of the child of God is to be sacrificial. Christ gave Himself up for us, and His life was presented as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Similarly, our life, modelled after the life of the True and Living God, must reveal the same sacrificial nature. Jesus taught us, both by word and by precept, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” [JOHN 15:13].
Within the assembly of the faithful, each life should reveal sacrificial love. Each home where Christ is honoured should reveal sacrificial love—husbands giving themselves for their wives, wives surrendering their own interests for their husbands, parents sacrificing their own interests for their children so that the children will learn how to live such a sacrificial life. There is not a hint of self-esteem to be witnessed in this concept. The self is sacrificed for the benefit of others.
In that passage in Ephesians, I note that not only is the life of the Christ Follower to be sacrificial, it is to be sanctified. I iterate Paul’s words, “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” [EPHESIANS 5:3-4].
Clearly, the actions of those who profess to know the Lord are under scrutiny in this passage. Perhaps we should be startled that the words we employ expose the heart. We are taught, “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person” [MATTHEW 15:18-20]. Therefore, even the speech of the one following Christ must be checked to ensure that we are honouring God. Remember, we are imitating Him; and God is not denoted by “unclean speech or foolish talk or dirty jokes.” [7] Again, there is no room for self-esteem in this scenario; rather, we seek to build, to ennoble, to encourage.
Perhaps the problem with those who would promote themselves at the expense of God’s glory, is that they have never actually met the LORD God. I’m not suggesting those with an exaggerated opinion of themselves are not believers—God alone knows the heart and He alone shall judge the motives of all mankind; nevertheless, their attitude makes it painfully obvious they have not met the Lord of Glory in any meaningful way.
After exalting himself as he defended himself before his comforters, Job met the Living God. The weary and wounded saint was astonished, and his mouth was shut by what he witnessed. Humbled, he realised that he was nothing when compared to the LORD God. Therefore, we read his confession. “Job answered the LORD and said:
‘I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
“Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
“Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.”
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.’”
[JOB 42:1-6]
After encountering the LORD and actually witnessing His might, Job’s perspective of the LORD was refreshed, and he gained a renewed vision of what his relationship to the LORD God should be. Job knew the LORD God, but this good man had fallen into the trap of thinking that he could question the LORD, challenge Him for what He was doing. However, when the LORD responded to his complaints, Job was humbled. He remembered that the LORD was God, not Job. The aged saint literally repented in dust and ashes. Talk about humility!
In the same way that Job was reminded of God’s might, we Christians often need to be reminded that the Lord is God, not us. Christ must be the centre of our universe, not us. The Son of God must be seated on the throne of our life, not us. We must shake off the detritus that accumulates as we move through this broken, fallen world so that our walk with the Saviour is not hindered.
Women in this day, including many women who would profess to follow the Master, are encouraged to become self-assertive so that it can be said of their life, “Nevertheless, she persisted.” This particular statement became a feminist motto, adopted after a female senator in the United States spoke in opposition to the appointment of a fellow senator to the position of Attorney General of the United States. [8] When the Majority Leader rebuked her from the floor of the Senate, he used this phrase to describe her dogged persistence even after she was demonstrated to be in error in the attack she was promoting against a former colleague. What would happen if those women who followed the Master were encouraged to so live that it would be said of them, “Nevertheless, she persisted in Christ?” We must encourage all Christians to fix their eyes on Christ, the Founder and Perfecter of our Faith” [see HEBREWS 12:1-2].
SELF-ESTEEM HINDERS THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH – If a congregation will grow by any measure we may employ, it will be necessary that we understand that we are responsible for one another. Scripture speaks of the assembly as the Body of Christ. Whenever we witness a congregation of the faithful, we are witnessing Christ at work. We see different expressions of the Saviour through the people of God.
Looking at the life of the saints, we see that some are teaching, others are providing guidance, yet others are affirming the mind of the Living God. Some are praying and seeking the welfare of the sick and injured. We see others quietly encouraging those who are discouraged, or perhaps they are calculating how they may be generous with their time and giving. All are working together to reveal the life of Christ.
Effective congregational life defies contemporary attitudes that are inherent to western thought. Western culture trains us to esteem rugged individualism. It is not that we want to be eremites, but we are trained to be individualists, rather than living as though we are part of something far greater than the individual. In a day that is rapidly passing, if it hasn’t already passed, we were taught that the ideals which were foundational to our formation as a nation were greater than our individuality. The individualism we esteemed was harnessed for the benefit of all. From earliest childhood we were taught to value the freedoms which God has given to all mankind as of inestimable worth. That ideal is being sacrifice today in favour of a socialistic view that esteems a measure of bondage—we are exchanging freedom for security. We willingly restrict the freedom we once esteemed to obtain the security we think we want.
We are taught in Scripture, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” [PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4]. The admonition warning against selfish ambition glides off our tongue rather easily; but implementing what we read is far more difficult. We are aware that ambition is a necessary part of life; without it, it is difficult to imagine anyone succeeding in life. However, ambition must not become such a controlling feature that we exalt self above others. This is the necessary counterbalance that Paul has provided in these verses. If we truly count others as more significant than ourselves, it is difficult to think that selfish ambition will prevail.
A congregation is composed of individuals. If the members are characterised by exaggerated self-esteem, the congregation will be known for its outsized pride, rather than for unity. Pride, as you are undoubtedly aware, can be destructive. Pride will ruin the testimony of individuals, and pride will destroy the testimony of congregations. Congregations that are characterised by pride reveal that they have become conceited and that they are thus devoid of understanding of what is taught in the Word. In fact, such assemblies will be marked by a craving for controversy and quarrels about words. They will be known for envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions and constant friction because they have cultivated depraved minds that are deprived of the truth [see 1 TIMOTHY 6:3-5].
When my ambition begins to exalt my personal interest over concern for the welfare of others, the congregation to which I belong will be negatively impacted. Surely we realise this is the essence of the Apostle’s instruction in his Letter to saints in Philippi! Continuing reading this letter, we are taught, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11].
Jesus is our example in this matter of humility. If He humbled Himself for our benefit, then it should follow that we are responsible to humble ourselves for His sake. This is especially true when our interaction with fellow believers is the issue in view. When we are focused on Jesus as the model for our own conduct, there is no room for self-esteem. Our purpose as followers of the Risen Saviour is to glorify the Son of God, not to magnify our own desires. We are responsible to honour Him, building His Body. According to what is written in the Word, we are to endeavour to build up, encourage and console our fellow believers [cf. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:3]. Exalting ourselves can only hinder the advance of the cause of Christ by detracting from building up this Holy Body.
Take careful note of the third verse of our text. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” [PHILIPPIANS 2:3]. What would happen among the churches of our Lord if those who follow the Saviour took this verse to heart. Before we give some consideration to this verse, add to it other instruction as provided in the Word.
We are taught in the Word, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour” [ROMANS 12:10]. There is a neglected tenet of the Faith! “Outdo one another in showing honour.” Imagine what the perception of the world would be if we who profess to be following the Christ were actually to make the effort to “outdo one another in showing honour.” Here is individualism that deserves honour!
Again, we are taught in Scripture, “Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” [EPHESIANS 5:17-21].
Cultivate an attitude that reveals submission to one another? That would be a novel concept among contemporary churches, wouldn’t it? Can you imagine what the world’s view of the faithful would be if they actually witnessed people with a submissive attitude toward one another? One must question whether such an example has been witnessed in this generation? Have you ever seen a congregation that revealed such consideration for one another? Have you ever been part of a congregation that actually considered one another? Let’s work to make this congregation such a divine reality!
Allow me to touch on one further portion of the Word before we explore in greater detail the concept presented in our text. Paul has commanded us who follow the Master, “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” [EPHESIANS 4:1b-3].
Selfish ambition and conceit will ensure that none of these admonitions which I’ve just read can ever be fulfilled. And if the admonitions remain unfulfilled, then the congregation can never progress toward the divine ideal. In fact, as the Apostle continued writing in the Ephesian Encyclical, he would elevate the ideal for the unified Body of Christ. “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” [EPHESIANS 4:4-6]. So long as we harbour selfish ambition or exhibit conceit, unity will never be achieved. Harmony, unity, mutual respect will never be witnessed when we exalt the concept of self-esteem.
SELF-ESTEEM DISHONOURS MY POSITION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST – The churches of this day appear to be infected with a deadly virus that threatens to destroy the Faith of Christ Jesus our Lord. The evil has infiltrated the assemblies, just as it has spread throughout the whole of society. The churches are being influenced by the world, rather than serving as salt and light. The virus that enervates and debilitates the people of God is self-esteem. We hold a much higher opinion of ourselves than we should.
It is bad enough that this malady causes us who profess the Christ to be Master of our lives to compare ourselves to the world, so that we often see the attitude that “We aren’t perfect, but we are not as bad as them!” But we even compare our churches to sister churches, and in our comparison “our church” always come out superior to others. Bad as this tendency is, it grows from the collective infection of the professed saints of the Lord. Individually, we carry this dreadful sickness into the assembly of the righteous, contaminating the holy bride of Christ.
We are taught in Scripture, “None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother” [ROMANS 14:7-10a]?
It seems as if the teaching of the Word concerning our appointment within the assembly of the righteous is neglected. The pulpit is responsible to instruct the members of the assembly concerning who they are and the importance of the Spirit’s placement of each one within the Body of Christ. I want to ensure that this congregation is not deprived of this vital knowledge.
Writing the saints in the city of Corinth, Paul addressed not only the issue of spiritual gifts, but the importance of each one. He wrote, “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” [1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11].
Focus on the ELEVENTH VERSE. Notice that the Spirit of God apportions the gifts, giving to each member of the Body precisely what God wants that individual to have! You received what God Himself said was essential for the welfare of the Body. There is no inconsequential gift, as each is necessary. There are no inferior gifts as each was given by the infinite God.
Again, take note of the SEVENTH VERSE. Notice how the Apostle says, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” God’s investment in you was specifically “for the common good.” God did not entrust any gift to one of His children in order to build up that child. God entrusted each gift with the understanding that the gift would be invested in the entire assembly.
Here is the vital point of this excursus—if you are truly born from above and you are not participating in the life of the Body, you are prostituting the gift of God. You are not merely wasting what God entrusted to your oversight, you are failing to honour your own position in the Body of Christ! This is the rationale for Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian Congregation, “Let all things be done for building up” [1 CORINTHIANS 14:26b]. Until you have jettisoned self-esteem and embraced building others within the Body, you cannot be said to honour your own position as a member of the Body.
As an aged man, William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army, sent his annual Christmas message to Salvationists around the world. In those days, communication was by telegraph, and you paid for each word that you sent. Times were tough, and the Army was short on funds; so Booth, in an act of economy, sent a one-word telegram: OTHERS. Something like that message needs to be sent to the faithful in this day.
When anyone who professes to be a member of the assembly exalts himself or herself, they do so at the expense of the Body. If we have the Spirit of Jesus, we willingly accept a position of service to our fellow worshippers. Do you not recall the instruction Jesus presented His disciples when they were jockeying for position? “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves” [LUKE 22:25-27].
Or again, recall the teaching of the Master that instruct us to serve when He said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” [MARK 9:35].
The message of humility in our service to the Body was not something that only Jesus taught, this message is echoed throughout the remainder of the New Testament. You will no doubt remember Paul’s teaching, “By the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” [ROMANS 12:3]. Clearly, the Apostle is teaching that exaggerated self-esteem is detrimental to our walk with the Lord; it damages the health of the Body and is destructive to our position within the Body.
Soon after writing this, the Apostle included this admonition: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour” [ROMANS 12:10]. Should we take to heart this admonition, the vast majority of internecine conflicts among the churches would never occur, and those that did arise would be quickly resolved.
Nor should anyone imagine that this teaching was confined to Paul’s writings. Peter instructed those who read His letters, “You who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” [1 PETER 5:5].
It is appropriate that you should ask me, “What became of your self-esteem?” The answer to that question is that I met Jesus. I witnessed Him as He gave Himself because of my sinful condition. When I met Him, I saw myself as I really am. I saw the contrast between His purity and my filthiness. I saw that I was besmirched, corrupt, defiled and tarnished. I had nothing that would induce God to love me. I saw that my character was accurately described when God, through Isaiah, said,
“We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
[ISAIAH 64:6]
Like Joshua the high priest, I stood before the Lord in filthy garments. You do recall that vision which Zechariah saw? “Then [the man whom God had sent] showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?’ Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’ And to him he said, ‘Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.’ And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by” [ZECHARIAH 3:1-5].
Christ the Lord took away my sin. He clothed me in His righteousness and brought me into His Family. I was saved, my sins were forgiven, and my destiny was changed. At once, I was set free from condemnation. No longer was I guilty before the Father. The Master did this in a moment of time when I received Him as Master over my life. With the redeemed of the ages, I shouted, “Free at last! Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!”
I learned to praise Jesus as Master of my life, confessing, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” [GALATIANS 2:20]. There is nothing novel in this confession, but it is truly exciting. Unlike the tawdry baubles of this dying world, Christ gave me eternal riches. I believed the Master when I heard Him say, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” [MATTHEW 6:19-21].
I heard the Spirit speaking through the Apostle, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” [1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19].
When I was saved by the grace of Christ the Lord, I no longer had need to exalt myself in my own eyes, nor would I attempt to exalt myself in the eyes of others. I determined that from that point onward I would exalt the Saviour who had redeemed my life from the pit. I no longer had need to build my self-esteem; I now had Christ-esteem. That is the message for each Christ follower today. Let us determine to focus on Christ our Master. Let each of us adopt the model provided by the Apostle, “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” [1 CORINTHIANS 9:27].
I take seriously the admonition of the brother of our Lord when he teaches us, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” [JAMES 4:10]. I speak to people who are saved. Before the Lord Who appointed me to this holy office, I want His best to be showered down on you. His mercies and His blessings cannot be revealed to you if you are infected with the virus of self-esteem. Truly, no man can know the heart, but the Spirit searches the heart of each one, revealing what lies within. If, as He now searches your heart, He exposes pride of self, confess it for what it is—sin. Forsake your pride and determine that you will exalt the Lord who redeems your life.
Perhaps I’m speaking to one who is convicted by the Spirit this day, as He reveals a darkness in your character. However, you are now convicted as He is working in your life. If that someone is you, the message is a call to forsake your sin, turning to Christ as Master over your life. Exalt the Lord by receiving the forgiveness of sin and by accepting the life that He offers as you place your full confidence in Him as Master over your life.
God calls you now, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” [ROMANS 10:9-10].
We are promised, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [ROMANS 10:13]. Believe in Christ and be saved. Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] David Brooks, The Road to Character (Random House Publishing Group, New York, NY 2015) 6
[3] Erica Goode, “Deflating Self-Esteem’s Role in Society’s Ills,” Oct. 1, 2002, https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/01/health/deflating-self-esteem-s-role-in-society-s-ills.html, accessed 25 April 2019
[4] Ibid.
[5] Karol Markowicz, “America’s parents have become morally bankrupt,” NY Post, March 16, 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/03/16/americas-parents-have-become-morally-bankrupt/, accessed 17 March 2019
[6] Ibid.
[7] EPHESIANS 5:4 as translated in the New International Reader’s Version, 1st ed. (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI 1998)
[8] “Nevertheless, she persisted,” article, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevertheless,_she_persisted, accessed 26 February 2019
