Dr Paul Allen

The self-esteem movement as we know it really began when Adam and Eve ate the fruit in Eden . Before that, self-esteem wasn’t an issue. Adam and Eve were not lost, and so had no need to “find themselves.” They had healthy self-esteem because they knew God and esteemed him above all things, certainly above themselves. This made them healthy selves, secure in their identity as children of God and complementary members of each other. Their self-esteem was rooted in a glorious humility, and defined and experienced in a God-designed community where they both knew and were known by God. But that changed when they (and all of us since) detached themselves from God in their effort to be “like God” (Genesis 3:5). Self-esteem became rooted in pride, and seeking it became infected with selfish ambition. It mutated from a God-glorifying, complementary pursuit into a self-glorifying, competitive pursuit. Looking in the Wrong Places Around the turn of the twentieth century, theories o...

“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt : for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” ( Hebrews 11:26 ) We hear much today about the importance of self-esteem , with the implication that lack of self-esteem is the cause of many of the personal problems and antisocial activities of so many young people (and others as well) these days. But this is not the biblical perspective. The problem really is too muchself-esteem. The biblical command is that we should “in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” ( Philippians 2:3 ). The man Moses was once a prince of Egypt, probably in line to become the pharaoh, but he chose Christ and the people of God instead, “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (today’s text). Paul the apostle could have become the greatest teacher and leader in the religious/political life of his own Jewish people , but he said: “What things were gain to me, ...

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” ( Philippians 2:3 ) In this verse, Paul challenged us to refrain from any “strife” or “vainglory”—words that seem a bit stern in the colloquial terms of our day. Eritheia  is the Greek word for “strife”—a contentious political maneuvering for greater power. “ Vainglory ” is similar. It comes from the Greek word  kenodoxia , an empty pride or groundless glory. Both are rather unpleasant descriptions of the foolish and sinful human behavior that is seen all too often among God’s people: “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” ( Galatians  5:26 ). On the contrary, we are challenged to “esteem” the others in our fellowship as “better than” ourselves. The precise words in this instruction insist that we are to use deliberate and careful judgment in our evaluation of others in our relationships as bei...

Image via Wikipedia "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt : for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." ( Hebrews 11:26 )   We hear much today about the importance of self-esteem , with the implication that lack of self-esteem is the cause of many of the personal problems and antisocial activities of so many young people (and others as well) these days.   But this is not the biblical perspective. The problem really is  too much  self-esteem. The biblical command is that we should "in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" ( Philippians 2:3 ). The man Moses was once a prince of Egypt, probably in line to become the pharaoh, but he chose Christ and the people of God instead, "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt" (today's text).   Paul the apostle could have become the greatest teacher and leader in the religious/political life of his own...

Image via Wikipedia Test yourself. What is your mindset? Do you begin with God and his rights and goals? Or do you begin with yourself and your rights and wishes? And when you look at the death of Christ , what happens? Does your joy really come from translating this awesome divine work into a boost for self-esteem ? Or are you drawn up out of yourself and filled with wonder and reverence and worship that here in the death of Jesus is the deepest, clearest declaration of the infinite esteem of God for his glory and for his Son? Here is a great objective foundation for the full assurance of hope: the forgiveness of sins is grounded, finally, not in my finite worth or work, but in the infinite worth of the righteousness of God — God's unswerving allegiance to uphold and vindicate the glory of his name. I appeal to you with all my heart, take your stand on this. Base yo Image via Wikipedia ur life on this. Ground your hope in this. You will be free from the futile mindset of th...