Something to round out Saturday..

My friend, Brenda, has a blog and I snagged this from her blog. I read it and it really got me thinking deeply and I have to agree with what she said and so I pass it along! ~~~ Ashley

Friday, April 24, 2009 (<--Our anniversary oddly enough!)

Self-Esteem vs. God-Esteem
It is bleeding from our culture into pulpits and "Christian literature" everywhere. Somehow slipping under the radar of discernment for many believers. On the surface it may seem harmless, helpful even - but is it Biblical? When you hear the term "Self-Esteem" what definition comes to your mind? I'll share the Merriam-Webster dictionary's definition and then challenge you to think on it for a moment.

self-esteem1 : a confidence and satisfaction in oneself : self-respect
2 : SELF-CONCEIT

Is this something we should be focusing on building up within ourselves and our children? Self satification ... self-conceit? Don't get me wrong, I do praise my children for a job well done and encourage them to strive to do their best. Yet, I believe trying to build up a prideful sense of self-worth is doing them a complete disservice and will be taking a step in the wrong direction in shaping a Biblical understanding of who they are and who Christ is. At any age, apart from Christ we are completely depraved and in desperate need of a Savior. As a born again Christian our focus should be drawn away from sinful pride and self-seeking desires. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26)

Our esteem, confidence, faith and hope should never be in placed in ourselves, rather it should remain steadfast in Christ alone! "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Posted by Brenda at Friday, April 24, 2009 2 comments
Labels: Self-Esteem vs. God-Esteem