Esteem God Highly

Since I can remember, in western society doing all we can to increase self-esteem in people has seemingly been universally accepted and viewed as good without controversy.  The tendrils of this worldly wisdom have wormed their way into education, workplaces, government, media, parenting and culture.  There is a scene in The Matrix when Morpheus says of Neo, "He's beginning to believe."  The quote referred to Neo's self-belief, that he could do things he once imagined impossible because he was "The One," the prophesied saviour.  The themes of self-belief and self-esteem has been emphasised ad nauseam, that the greatest inspiration is found within ourselves.  If we believe it we can achieve it, that we can be whatever and whoever we want, that the power to shape our destiny has been laying dormant inside us all along--and our self-esteem was the key to unlock it.

The tenor and teachings of the Bible take a completely different approach, for it makes a strong case for low self-esteem--not that we ought to think little of ourselves but by esteeming God more we think of ourselves less.  It is important to understand the natural posture of human beings is to esteem self more than everyone else.  Ephesians 5:29 says, "For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church."  Those who hate their bodies or their lives do not hate themselves, for people merely inhabit a body for awhile on earth.  Even people in the world can see how pride, arrogance and selfishness is a sinful snare that leads to great harm for self and others.  "Pride comes before a fall," the Bible says, and the once humble King Saul was rejected by God when he became great in his own eyes, sought his own glory, and refused to submit to God.  Satan esteemed himself highly, believing he could be as the Most High--and it led to his catastrophic fall from grace.

Haman is a prime example of a man who esteemed himself highly, and this man was a deceiver with murderous intentions.  Through his friendship with the king he managed to enact a law that commanded the annihilation of the Jewish people, and he was often enraged when people did not give him the respect and honour he craved--despite his privileged position, perks and great wealth.  He esteemed himself so highly it coloured the way he saw the world, and Esther 6:6 illustrates this:  "So Haman came in, and the king asked him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?"  These are not the words of a man plagued by low self-esteem!  Haman had just literally constructed a gallows to hang the Jew Mordecai because he felt slighted by him, and all he could think about was seeking honour for himself because he esteemed himself over all others.  Literally before the day was over, Haman would be hung on those gallows for his foolish pride.

As a contrast, consider those esteemed God highly and saw themselves in the light of His glorious goodness, wisdom and power.  After God revealed Himself to Job in a series of questions Job 42:1-2, 6 reads:  "Then Job answered the LORD and said: ² "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You...⁶ Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."  When Isaiah saw a vision of the LORD lifted up, Isaiah 6:5 states, "So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."  David expressed a desire to build a temple for God, yet God forbade him from doing so as the task would be completed by his son.  Rather than being sullen or upset like a petulant child who demands his way, David was overwhelmed by gratitude for God's kindness, promises and he blessed the LORD of hosts gladly (2 Samuel 7:25-29).  Each of these men were comforted, strengthened, and blessed by God who knew and loved them.

These godly men are just a few examples in Scripture of those who feared the LORD and esteemed Him rather than themselves.  It was not positive thoughts about self that lifted them from depression, brought healing or filled them with joy in the midst of trials but esteeming highly the good God they worshiped and submitted to in humility.  Jesus Christ taught His disciples rather than embracing the pursuit of high self-esteem they were deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him.  He spoke to His disciples in Matthew 6:25-26:  "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"  Rather than esteeming themselves, their own needs and desires, Jesus taught His followers to look to God to supply all that was needed for life, knowing He valued them.  What is more important:  to esteem ourselves or highly esteem God who esteems us with love?

The higher we esteem God as worthy, the less we will esteem ourselves.  Knowing we are loved, chosen and accepted by God's grace, He causes us to increase in love for one another--not so others will esteem us, but because we are loved and valued by God.  Trying to build our own self-esteem or the self-esteem of others from a biblical viewpoint is futile, for the more we succeed in doing so the further our focus drifts from God, His word, wisdom and ways.  While high self-esteem seems reasonable and desirable according to worldly wisdom, it ultimately leaves all who invest in it totally bankrupt and bereft of enduring hope.  One might as well do as Baron Munchausen did by lifting himself and his horse out of the water by his own hair.  The benefits of a high self-esteem are shown by the Bible to be fantasy that defy spiritual physics like the Baron lifting himself to safety.  James 4:10 flips the script on self-esteem:  "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."  Those who esteem God He will exalt. 

(“Aventures du baron de Münchhausen.” Traduction nouvelle par Théophile Gautier fils; illustrées par Gustave Doré. Paris: Furne, Jouvet et cie, [ca. 1862])