Self-Esteem or Kingdom Worth?

Published by Angela | Filed under Uncategorized, Self-Worth

In our cultural system our self-esteem is measured by our performance, physical presentation and wealth. How well we perform in the different arenas of life gives us a measurement called worth. When we perform well our sense of worth is greater. When we perform poorly either because of choices, a lack of support or resources and finances, or physical setbacks then our sense of worth suffers a roller coaster affect. When our physical presentation (looks) is compared with others and is better our worth goes up. But when compared with others who may have the DNA pool of natural beauty then our worth goes down. Up and down we ride through life based on these ever fluctuating criteria.

Unfortunately, these criteria are not fair because we don’t all have the same resources from which to draw. Not everyone has the gene pool to be a “jock” athlete, a leggy model, intellectual genius or a financial wizard. Not everyone has loving, nurturing parents who believe in them and can support them financially and emotionally in their pursuits of excellence. Not everyone has a great school system or opportunities in their neighborhood to excel in their particular area of potential expertise.

So how do we make the judgment of worth fair? How does everyone start out with the same worth even though they have different DNA, environmental influences and support?

I believe it’s only as we take a Kingdom view of self-worth that we can find a fair and just judgment of our worth. The secular view is unfair and leaves too many people with no hope of ever measuring up, so “why try” is their attitude.

What is the Kingdom view? It’s based on how God views each one of us according to His revealed Word.

1) He sees each of us as “fearfully and wonderfully made” even with our handicaps,

moles and birthmarks. He has a hand in designing each one of us personally so we are each a Masterpiece. Being designed by the Master makes each one of us a person of great worth.

2) We are each unique in our design. No two people are exactly alike in their genetic make-up, influences and responses to those influences. We each have a unique combination of gifts, talents, abilities, passions and personality blend. Anything that is unique or one-of-a-kind is considered to be of great worth. Being unique makes each of us of rare worth.

3) God paid a high price to redeem us from the destruction and consequences of the Fall so we could be in relationship with Him. The price was the humiliation, suffering death of His only Son in our place on the cross. We are of extreme worth because of what we cost the Father to purchase us back for himself. Our cost makes us of great worth.

4) If we are part of the Kingdom of God through believing and receiving Christ while following Him then we are God’s child – joint heirs with Christ Jesus and that makes us Children of the King which makes us very valuable.

People all over the world from different genetic pools, different socio-economic groups, rich or poor countries are people of great worth just because of the cost to potentially redeem them back to the Father. That worth is realized when we enter His Kingdom now with the decision to follow Jesus rather than go our own way seeking the ever changing value of self-esteem through performance, looks and wealth.

Which would you rather have? That which keeps you striving to keep up or that which is bestowed upon you by the creator of the universe?

Once we see ourselves as people of great worth then we can begin living out that worth in our performance, attitudes and lifestyles treating everyone as people of great worth and dignity.