Self-Esteem in the Bible?

Article #15 on Psychology 

Are you feeling good about yourself? Self-esteem is a lifelong battle for most people. It is quite normal to feel unworthy, ashamed, guilty, and afraid. Why? Something is going on inside that needs to be honestly confronted. It is the work of the conscience (Rom. 2:13-15). This is what makes us different than the animals.

​Our conscience gives us the ability to discern right and wrong, and thus we are morally accountable before God for how we choose to live in this world. Naturally, as sinners, we feel condemned in the courtroom of our conscience, only because we truly are condemned before God. Everyone, everywhere, without exception, needs to be saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” – Rom. 3:19

Our conscience agrees with the laws of God in the Bible and bears witness to us that we are lawbreakers. God is speaking through the conscience! And this is why sinners are terrified to violate their own conscience in new and unprecedented ways. A stabbing sense of guilt, remorse, fear, and shame only increases as we sin against God (1 Cor. 15:56). Meanwhile, famous psychologists like Carl Jung would like you to completely ignore your conscience and simply accept yourself, but even he acknowledges that it is terrifying to go against your conscience. “The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.” (Carl Jung). Evidently, you are going to have a hard time doing that! Your conscience is resisting you as it acts as a mental reprover. 

“Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” – Rom. 14:22

Self-esteem is an uphill battle that you are never going to win, unless your conscience is seared and you silence the mental reprover. This is not advisable (Titus 1:15). The ruin of the conscience leads to spiritual insanity! This is the kind of thing that celebrities talk about, when they say, “Accept who you are; and revel in it.” (Mitch Albom). 

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” – 1 Tim. 4:1-2

A broken conscience is noisy and bothersome. People resort to drinking and drugs to get through the day. They rely on sleeping pills to get through the night (Eccl. 5:12, 8:16, Prov. 4:16, Micah 2:1). “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isa. 57:21). Most people know deep within that something is terribly wrong, but they are too proud to admit it or too busy to confront it. They don’t have time for God! They are too busy enjoying the honor and approval of their peers (Matt. 23:5, Ps. 49:13, John 5:44, Prov. 16:5). 

“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” – Lk. 16:15 

Self-esteem is impossible because that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. As a matter of fact, instead of esteeming ourselves, we should be denying ourselves. Self is the problem in a world of lost sinners. Salvation from self is the only solution. 

“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23)

Jesus Christ, the embodiment of divine love, had some heavy things to say about self. The truth hurts because sinners are conditioned to believe that flattery is love. However, in this case, flattery is not honesty. The situation is hopeless as long as sinners remain godless. Nevertheless, when man-meets-God, everything changes. The Gospel is a message of reconciliation. Sinners are turned into saints! Do you want to know more? Start reading the Bible. Seek God. Confess your sins to the Lord in prayer. Believe in the Gospel! If you don’t understand it, ask the Lord to guide you into an understanding of the Gospel so that you can be truly saved by Jesus Christ. Only then will you find rest for your soul (Matt. 11:28-30).