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Is It Self-Esteem Or Sinful Pride?

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

In a Fox News report dated September 3, 2004, various schools around the country were putting “self-esteem” above academic standards. As a result, students were failing in their school work, but they all had “self-esteem!” Worse yet – their administrators and teachers were thrilled!

In this writer’s view, the above story equates to sinful “pride,” a characteristic the Bible condemns (cf. Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 18:12). While there is nothing wrong with having self-esteem, i.e., loving ourselves (Matthew 22:39).

Pride is unreasonable self-esteem, generally accompanied by insolence and rude treatment of others. It deceives the heart (Jeremiah 49:16), hardens the mind (Daniel 5:20), and results in destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

With these thoughts in mind, let us carefully examine our own “self-esteem” in light of the life of Jesus:

  • We may be proud of our status – Jesus was truly God in the flesh, but laid His glory aside (Philippians 2:5-8).
  • We may be proud of our profession – Jesus was a simple carpenter (Mark 6:3).
  • We may be proud of our houses – Jesus had no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20).
  • We may boast of our wealth – Jesus had none (2 Corinthians 8:9).
  • We may be proud of our “distinguished” friends – Jesus’ friends largely consisted of poor fishermen (Matthew 4:18-22).
  • We may “move” in high circles of society – Jesus went into the homes of tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:16).
  • We may take great pride in our education – Jesus never went to college.
  • We may talk a great deal about getting our own way – Christ said, “I seek not my own will” (John 5:30).
  • We may boast of our “position” – Jesus said, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27).
  • We may be proud of our “reputation” – Jesus made Himself of “no reputation” (Philippians 2:7).

Brethren, let us as the Lord’s followers, more closely heed the admonition that Paul gave to the brethren at Rome:

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

In addition, Paul tells the brethren at Philippi:

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus….” (Philippians 2:3-5).

Brethren, this is the kind of “self-esteem” we need to incorporate into our character and present before others.

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