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 are sinful snares that lead 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 who 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 that rather than embracing the pursuit of high self-esteem they were to 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])

Faith and Feelings

I leafed through an old book yesterday titled Arrows and Anecdotes, a compilation of stories and sayings from the life and ministry of D.L. Moody.  I came upon one anecdote I especially liked titled "Faith and Feelings," and hopefully it will be useful for all who read it.

"One night, when preaching in Philadelphia, right down by the side of the pulpit there was a young lady, whose eyes were riveted on me, as if she were drinking in every word.  It is precious to preach to people like that; they generally get good, even if the sermon be poor.  I got interested in her, and after I had done talking I went and spoke to her.  "Are you a Christian?"  "No; I wish I was; I have been seeking Jesus for three years."  I said, "There must be some mistake."  She looked strangely at me, and said, "Don't you believe me?"  "Well, no doubt you thought you were seeking Jesus; but it don't take an anxious sinner three years to meet a willing Saviour."  "What am I to do, then?"  "The matter is, you are trying to do something; you must just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."  "Oh, I am sick and tired of the word 'Believe, believe, believe!'  I don't know what it is."  "Well," I said, "we'll change the word; take 'trust.'"  "If I say, 'I'll trust him,' will he save me?"  "No; I don't say that; you may say a thousand things, but he will if you do trust him."  "Well," she said, "I do trust him; but," she added in the same breath, "I don't feel any better."  "Ah, I've got it now!  You've been looking for feelings for three years instead of for Jesus.  Faith is up above, not down here."  People are always looking for feelings.  They are getting up a new translation of the Bible here, and if the men who are translating it would only put in feelings, instead of faith, what a rush there would be for that Bible.  But if you look from Genesis to Revelation you cannot find feelings attached to salvation.  We must rise above feelings.  So I said to this lady, "You cannot control your feelings; if you could what a time you'd have!  I know I would never have the toothache or the headache." (Lobb, John, and D. L. Moody. Arrows and Anecdotes. Henry Gurley, 1877. pages 149-150)

From my observations, as this seeker was frustrated for seeking an arbitrary feeling, Christians can seek particular experiences--especially ones other Christians have spoken about.  I cannot tell you how many believers have been sidetracked and cast down over the lack of an experience.  Such can be like a diner in a restaurant who is overwhelmed by the menu and sees a plate of food set down before a fellow diner and exclaims, "I want what they are having."  We can also be like people who make their menu choice based on a picture, and when the food is plated and served it looks nothing like the picture and we lament not going with our usual order.  If we make the spiritual experiences of others or the satisfaction of our expectations our pursuit, God is gracious to prevent us from the satisfaction only possible by faith in Jesus and submission to Him.  This profound joy and rest is more than a feeling or experience--though our relationship with Christ involves both on the basis of God's word.  Let us be those who trust Christ and exercise faith by obedience in Him, and He will help sort out our feelings as well.

For God's Sake

I remember a book title concerning children which compared them to wet cement because they are very impressionable.  They are incredibly observant learners, and many times a parent has been appalled by their own foul language echoing from the mouths of their children!  Words have flowed from our lips with great ease that grated upon our ears when repeated by our little ones.  Without going to school or preparing for an exam, children can be greatly influenced by those closest to them for good and ill.

God's design for parents is they would be responsible to teach their children of God and His ways.  This relevant principle for today was communicated by Moses in Deuteronomy 6:6-7:  "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."  Parents are called to be diligent to teach their children by example, to instruct them concerning God and His righteous character, and to illuminate the way of salvation by faith in Jesus.  There are some who think it improper to impose a Christian worldview upon a child, but to shrink from this God-given responsibility is great folly when we know in Jesus alone is truth, love and life.  C.H. Spurgeon is quoted as saying, "Whether we teach young Christians truth or not, the devil will be sure to teach them error.”

When God led His people into the land of Canaan He promised to give them as an inheritance, He commanded they obey God to destroy the inhabitants "...lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the LORD your God." (Deuteronomy 20:18)  Should the heathen remain in the land of their inheritance, those under God's judgment would have a corrupting influence upon God's people and future generations who would adopt their sinful ways.  Sin always leads to more sin, and successive generations tend to drift further from the fear of God.  As I considered this, it led me to believe there is a person who sees the risk of sinful influences for themselves, and others who would be more apt to take action for the sake their children.  They don't believe they will fall prey to idolatrous practices (or could be corrupted even by indulging in them), but they take seriously the protection of their own children and keeping up appearances.

I have observed occasions where a husband and wife remain in a marriage relationship "for the children."  Though their bonds of love have been broken and their relationship seems unsalvageable, it is agreed enduring the paper-thin veneer of marriage would provide the best environment for the sake of their children.  When it comes to putting away sinful conduct or labouring to restore a loving marriage, shouldn't we do this--not for the children--but primarily for God's sake because we love Him?  We should obey God first because we fear, trust and love Him; we should repent of our sins and protect our children from harm so God would be glorified.  I wonder how many things we do for others, our children or ourselves which would be best done with God in mind for His sake.  Colossians 3:23-24 rings in my ears on this topic:  "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

The Blessing Cycle

"Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. ⁶ Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. ⁷ God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him."

Psalm 67:5-7

In our Bible study last night at church, we discussed how the psalmist illustrated how God's blessing of the earth leads to the praise and worship of God who will bless His people.  It is what I termed the "blessing cycle" of God that is continuous.  God blesses all people because He is good, and when His people praise Him God's blessing is multiplied so people shall fear Him to the ends of the earth.

After God created the heavens and earth and established His divine order in the world, the water cycle has been a means of God watering the earth and providing for the needs of all living things.  Water on the earth evaporates by the heat of the sun, condenses in clouds, falls to the earth in precipitation, and gathers in streams, lakes and the ocean.  At all times this cycle is at work throughout the globe without beginning or end.  As the earth speeds along on its tireless circuit around the sun as it moves through our galaxy, so the water cycle perpetuates like clockwork by God's power continuously.

The basic concept of the water cycle parallels the words of the psalmist who began the song by confidently asking God for mercy and blessing even as farmers pray for rain to fall on parched fields.  When rain does fall, consider all the drops of rain that fall upon lawns, gardens, and are gathered in gutters and are funnelled into rainwater tanks for future use.  There are many more raindrops that fall in the streets, footpaths and carparks that sweep away down storm drains to the sea.  Sometimes the downpour can be so great our rainwater tanks and dams fill and water spills over.  But none of those drops are lost, for they are gathered and in time evaporate to drop down again.

So it is with blessings from God:  He showers them liberally upon all people, and those who fear Him praise Him for great and glorious things He has done.  David said because of God his "cup runs over" and this is true concerning God's blessings which exceed our capacity to receive or acknowledge fully.  Having been thus blessed by God, the result is the praise of God who is blessed beyond measure.  God then rains more blessing upon us than we can contain day after day.  Our lives are sustained by the water cycle God upholds to provide water, and being blessed by God moves us to praise Him continuously.  Because we are blessed by God we can have confidence like the psalmist we will be blessed now and forever.

May our hearts sing forth as David's did in Psalm 103:1-5:  "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: ³ Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."  Hasn't God been good to us?  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!