Biblical Resources for Everyday Life
Do you ever try to boost your self-esteem? Of course you do – we all do – typically by comparing ourselves with others. I recommend against such comparisons, and so does the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:12. What’s wrong with this practice? Several things.
Hypocrisy is acting like what you aren’t, The phony biblical Pharisees looked good and hid their evil hearts. Christians are phony in a different way. When a Christian sins they look bad and obscure their newly good hearts. For a Christian, sin is hypocrisy.
Self-esteem is what we think we’re worth. Self-worth is what we’re actually worth. The two don’t always match. Our estimate of our worth may have nothing to do with reality.
What gives us dignity? Is it something we accomplish on our own, or is it a gift from God? Calvin Miller ‘s book, The Singer addresses the issue of human dignity from both perspectives.
Read moreOne August several years ago, seven football greats came to a microphone in Canton, Ohio to accept their induction into the in the National Football League Hall of Fame. Two of the speeches fascinated me. Both speakers had worked hard to achieve excellence – and both triumphed – yet their motivations could not have been more different: one highlighted his fear of failing; the other highlighted his faith.
Read moreHere’s a true story about a horrible/wonderful experience. A disfigured stranger at the airport gave me a close glimpse of the profound difference between humiliation and humility. He reminded me of Jesus. He was at ease with himself. He lived out humility: not trying to be more than he was … not settling for less than he was. His example furthered my own journey from a pervasive sense of shame to knowing that God has given each of us – including me, including you – unassailable and unchanging dignity.
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