Self love, self importance, self esteem, are these not contrary to Christian Scripture?

Question

As they are contrary to humility. The Bible states plainly that the "meek shall inherit the earth." How do we reconcile the love of self with scripture?

Answer 1

Self-Love and Self-Esteem could, theoretically, be in the same category, if not synonymous. Self-Importance would imply "Ego." Ego implies arrogance, conceit, boasting.

So, to answer your question. To love one's self---or to have a high self-esteem--would mean that you hold your "self" in high regard. The Bible teaches us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I don't know about you, but that would indicate a pretty special place. To be a good steward of your body, your soul, and your mind is merely holding yourSELF in high regard BECAUSE it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Now, Self-Importance----For Christians, we are all parts of the Body of Christ. It takes all the parts of the body to make the whole body function properly and appropriately; it takes every member of the body in order for the body to be whole. Now, that makes each part of the Body of Christ very important. We all must do our jobs to the best of our abilities; we must all strive to be the best and do the best we can at all times, not just when we're enjoying what we're doing. In that regard, each Christian must see himself or herself as important to the workings of the Whole Body.

Now-----Self Importance in the Egotistical sense is not a Christian motivation. However, we are all human; "We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God." In that respect, sometimes we can find our position in this world as more important that our role or our part of the Body of Christ.

Unfortunately, riches, fame, and masses of praise by others can "go to our heads." We're normal people. Everyone loves to feel important to their employers, to their families, and to their churches. Unfortunately, we can put our minds and hearts in those feelings and lose sight of who is actually important in our lives----our Lord, our families, our marriages, our children, etc. When we take our eyes off God and stop reading the Bible, we can be "of the world" and start bragging; boasting is a sin and a disgrace to God.

Psalms 52:1 cites, "Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man? Why do you boast all day long, you, who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?"

Jeremiah 9:23 reads, "This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches."

Christians are human beings who stumble, fall, sin, and make inappropriate decisions---Christians aren't super-humans who are perfect------not yet. But that is why we are so drawn to other Christians, our home churches, our pastors and mentors, so that when we stumble, when we sin, when we fall, the world is not ready to pounce on us and devour or beat us over the head BECAUSE we were not perfect. We have a loving Body of Christ who will tell us the truth, teach us how to get back on the right path, and help us not make the same mistakes twice!

Believe me---Christians are well aware of the eyes of the world on them, on their daily lives, their public lives, and we know that one wrong step, one stumble, and the world will be there holding out their finger saying, "See, you're not perfect! If you can't do it right with your God, then stop preaching to me." When those who condemn Christians sin or decide they want lifestyles contrary to morality, they can just go to the legislature, walk a few marches, scream, shout, yell, and wear their sin like a shield. All a Christian has to do to be persecuted is stand up for their faith.

And as one of my favorite actors used to say, "SO LET IT BE WRITTEN.....SO LET IT BE DONE.....ETCETERA, ETCETERA, ETCETERA.' Yule Brenner, The King and I.

Answer 2

the meek shall inherit the earth, that did not mean that people should not think that they are important of cause every individual is important may be as a mother or father, and of course you have to have self esteem, with out it you would never be sussesful we really dont take all the sayings literally but every thing in the bible has deep meaning, and unless you study the scriptures as a scholar dont go spreading wrong things, there are so many phrases that can be miss leading. we say the good shepard it does not mean christ looked after sheep, and so forth, to be a good christian one has to have faith, trust and live peacefully respect for man kind respect for this beautiful earth,

Answer 3

2Tim.3:1-7; For the last days.

Matt.10:34-38; Those against those for God and Christ.

Gal.5:19-23; The difference in those for God and Christ, and those against.

John 17:3; Matt.22:37-40; Rom 13:8-10; Heb.2:9,14,16; 1John 3:22[be prepared to not be in with those that are wrong in the last days, have protection Heb.4:12; Eph.6:13-18; John 12:47,48; Take on the whole armour from God 1Cor.2:9; Stand against Satan in these last days.

Answer 4

I agree that we must die to self. But the meek in that scripture do not refer to the what you think, but rather refer to those that are teachable. But I believe the book of Philippians says it best in 2:3 - check it out. Self esteem is a humanistic approach to solve problems best overcome by humility, not ego.

Answer 5

Humility is complicated, both to define and to practice. You can't simply decide to have humility, and then take action against yourself. It's not a trade-off: you or others. My best guess is that it's a state of being resulting from the power to regard things outside yourself with respect and dignity...To be non-judgemental and allow everyone to exist, as they are (because you don't know better or more, and your acheivements are not superior) If you can love yourself when you have failed and value yourself when you are wrong; then you can probably have humilty.

I don't see this as a conflict.

Answer 6

These are human traits, which aren't that easy to stop. It takes a long time for some people to get it. You cannot reconcile meekness and love of self, just have to strive very hard to be meek.

Answer 7

How can you "love others as yourself" if you have no love for yourself? How can possible not love something that God does? So a Christian does have to love himself. That's what there meek part comes in. To be "meek" is to be teachable and useable. Every Christian needs to be those. Like Christ, a Christian chooses to put others first and to sacrifice himself. If he was worthless and unloveable, that it would not be much of a scarifice. But when he knows his value before God, then it is a real sacrifice to put others first. That's meekness.

Answer 8

There are two types of self esteem.

Low and high

Low self-esteem is concerned with what others think. They live through the eyes of others even though the eyes of God.

High self-esteem can only measure there esteem by their own idea of what is good and bad. They set high goals and attempt to meet them with or without the support of others. These goals have one thing in common for high esteemers - all are intended to create value , not destroy it.

Just what kind of esteem do your think the bible refers to? I think low esteem is harmful and high causes a natural spiritual kind of transcendence of the being in question.

Answer 9

Circe,

The best example that I can think of to answer your question is Jesus. He knew Who He was, and yet He was our example of humility. Humility is simply faith and obedience.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, 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 knew that He was God, and of great value, but He was able to serve others and obey His Father in everything – even to the point of death. God, the Father, exalted Jesus and even exalted Jesus’ name because of His faithful obedience.

Mother Teresa was a humble servant, and yet God exalted her so highly that she could gain an audience with any world leader on very short notice. Billy Graham can do the same thing. We very rarely see this kind of humility and obedience, but these people saw their purpose, realized their value and were obedient.

Each Christian is valuable enough to God to sacrifice His Son, and to give us the opportunity to rule with Jesus in eternity. This is not a reason for pride but humility and gratitude. Without self-esteem, there is no value to God’s workmanship in us, Jesus’ sacrifice for us and our Father’s destiny for us. We are very valuable servants.

God bless.

Answer 10

Too much of anything is bad.

Self love, self importance, and self esteem are all neccisary for everyone. Jesus tells us to " Love your neighbor as you love yourself" This points to the fact that we should love ourselves in the first place. And how can christians not have self importance, God has a unique plan for every christian, and they are infact in the bloodline of christ and God, they are his children.

Jesus dwells in christians, so they should have self esteem and pride in the work that God has done through them.

Of course too much of anything is bad, too much pride in ones self, too much self love is never good.

Answer 11

Jesus said that one the two greatest laws is to "Love your neighbor as yourself." How could you love your neighbor if you didn't love yourself? This principle is born out in humans whether you believe in God or not. How many people do you know find it difficult to love anyone because they don't particularly like themselves?

While the Bible warns not to "think more of yourself than you ought" it does not deny your value. God confirms your value in the fact that He loves you and gave Himself for you.

The terms are not contradictory.... they are complimentary.