SELF- ESTEEM Lesson 9 for February 26, 2011

Every human being is very valuable because... We were created in God’s image.

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” (Acts, 17: 26) We were created with a purpose. Every human being is very valuable because... We were created in God’s image.

“For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honour” (Psalm 8: 5) We were created splendid, in glory. Every human being is very valuable because... We were created in God’s image. We were created with a purpose.

“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100: 3) We belong to God our Creator. We were created splendid, in glory. Every human being is very valuable because... We were created in God’s image. We were created with a purpose.

Low self-esteem: “I’m worth nothing. I do nothing well.” The Bible invites us to love ourselves. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew, 22: 39) Arrogance: “I’m the best. I do everything well and other people don’t know anything.” The Bible invites us to not being proud of who we are or what we do, but having a well-balanced view of ourselves. “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) A wrong viewA right view

“The Lord is disappointed when His people place a low estimate upon themselves. He desires His chosen heritage to value themselves according to the price He has placed upon them. God wanted them, else He would not have sent His Son on such an expensive errand to redeem them. He has a use for them, and He is well pleased when they make the very highest demands upon Him, that they may glorify His name. They may expect larger things if they have faith in His promises” E.G.W. (Lift Him up, June 13)

We can help others to increase their self-esteem with our words, our deeds and even how we look at them. The value of people according to our society depends on what they have, their status or their look. We shouldn’t let the society influence us in how we value ourselves, since that is not how God values us. As Christians, we should value the things that are important to God at others: honesty, goodness, self-control...

God values us immensely “For thus says the Lord of hosts: … He who touches you touches the apple of His eye” (Zechariah, 2: 8) God takes care especially of those who are through trouble, who are far from Him, who are tempted, who are weak, who have need... “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40: 1-3) He always listens to us when we go to Him looking for help. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John, 3: 16) We have an infinite value to God; He even gave his Children for us.

We will have a right balance in how we value ourselves and how we value others thanks to God’s power through conversion. Ephesians, 4: 23-32