Daily Archive for September 02 2013
Do I love myself?
TEAGUEBIBLECHURCH Jimmy Petty 
Do I love myself?
Should I love myself?
Should I beat myself up?
Should I put myself down?
Should I always defend myself?
Should I put myself first?
“SELF- ESTEEM” : There is such a thing as a healthy self-image that is based on being at peace with God through Jesus Christ.
My view of myself must be His (God’s) view. Every other view is an illusion.
Other people in your life have a limited view of you; so if you go to them to establish your self-esteem, they cannot fulfill you.
Logic dictates that God has the final say about us, since He created us for Himself and for
His purposes.
The world likes to talk about “self-esteem.” I think they mean well, but I think they start in the wrong place. They say to start with the knowledge of yourself and work out from that point. You might have noticed that the process does not work, though it sells a lot of books.
* Simply put, you cannot “find yourself” by starting with yourself . That is like trying to look at the back of your own head.
* Every cause has an effect. You did not create yourself, so there is no way to tell yourself what you were created for. Psalms 100:3
*God has placed “eternity in our hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), therefore nothing on this earth can completely satisfy you. You were created for something greater.
* Just getting this world’s goods or the approval of the people of this world cannot satisfy you.
Why not? Because we are eternal beings, so how could earthly things and earthly relationships totally satisfy us? Starting from ourselves, as a source, to fulfill our own idea of happiness, will never supply what we need.
(Read Philippians 2: 3-4.)
The Fall of man makes it such that we have such a fragile self-image we feel
threatened when asked to do what we consider “too much” for others.
(Side point): Can you get used and abused by others? Yes, but even then, we allow that to happen because we do not feel complete, and hope by being a “doormat” for someone they will return the things we seek. It is still an attempt to repair a fragile self-image through people.
Example: Jesus washed the disciple’s feet; not because He could do nothing greater, or be anything but a servant, but because His identity was not in question, He knew exactly who He was, so He was free to give with no feeling of threat to Himself, or any selfish need to get others to make His identity for Him. Really think about this one! (Good resource book, “Boundaries” )
If we love God first, we feel good about ourselves; but if “self-centered”, it is just
selfishness, even if one calls it “self-esteem.” Since it misses what we really need, it leaves
us unsatisfied.
A forgiven person acts as a free person; free from the constant hunger to get more, more, more. That is, more things, or more acknowledgements from people. The forgiven person knows God has accepted them because of what Christ has done for them.
(Colossians 2:10. ”For in Him you have been made complete.”)
They do not need to constantly pamper themselves and be narcissistic (self-absorbed, self-glorifying, self-loving) to the point of distraction. If you are not sure of your identity with God then others become a threat to “your” time and “your” fulfillment. Add to that the constant need of their approval and you enter into real misery. (This is classic “Hostile/Dependent” behavior)
When Christ said to “love others as yourself,” (Matthew 19:19) He was not saying, as some say, “Well, you have to love yourself, before you can love others.” No, that would be the wrong place to start!
The point of the verse is that He knew we are naturally self- centered, because of the Fall. He wants us to have the real freedom that was intended, before the Fall. He wants us to be so sure of our relationship to Him, therefore, giving to others and loving others is no longer a threat.
The goal is to be “God-centered”
Our worst enemy is being self-absorbed, and self- centered.
Check out II Tim.3:2 “lovers of self.”
Also Check out Galatians 5:13-26
Good passages on how to see yourself.
You belong to God. He is creator and redeemer I Cor. 6; 19-20
He Cares Mt. 6: 30-33 Mt. 23:37
He Values Us Mt. 10:29-31
These verses alone, (and there are many others), should help anybody realize how loved we are and how much God is actively caring for us. The whole Bible is the story of His pursuit of us!
The Result? = A right and healthy view of ourselves.
We are accepted by God, through the work of Christ on the
cross. He loved us so much that He died on the cross for us.
This took care of the eternal damage done by sin. Now we can progressively recover a right view of ourselves and others while in this life.
Even though Christians are not perfect now, we can enjoy our
new life in Christ which makes it possible to love others for the right reasons, and give to others without feeling threatened by a false self-image, that usually demands more attention than is really needed, resulting in self-centeredness. We can stop being afraid that we will not be accepted by people we feel can make our identity for us. We have a sure identity in Christ!
“ It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
That is only felt deeply if you know you identity in Christ.
Note what He calls us! Col. 3:12-17
This is the true fulfilling we need and the right kind of self- image.
This is the permanent identity we have; the one we grow into.
ROMANS 8:16 Comfort and assurance
This means He continually assures us that He loves us. He enjoys telling
us He loves us and helping us sense it all the time.
Romans 8:28 The ultimate “good” is to be like Christ in character and completeness
Romans 8:31-39
This is the great passage on how He feels about us. People are too
undependable to always rely upon them to keep us feeling the love we
need at all times. Only God can do this for us.