This the last in my series on Confidence, please note if you are an email subscriber and discovered “weird” Bible reference in the previous part(s)…. I made mistake with typing the verse…. all errors corrected in the online version of the post(s).
Confidence for Everyone
I have shown that SELF-confidence is a bad thing, but yet, everybody needs SOME kind of “confidence” in order to function effectively in life !
Jesus said, “he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25)…. BUT….He also said, “… you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39)… this IMPLIES that you must have SOME sort of love for yourself… SOME self-worth. Paul also said, “…no one ever hated his own flesh…” (Ephesians 5:29)…. this also assumes some kind of self-worth… and therefore if a person “hates themselves” it is both an ABNORMAL and UNDESIRABLE condition that should be fixed as soon as possible.
What causes this abnormal self-loathing ?
Some possible causes:
- Physical features
- Lack of education
- Tragic circumstances
- Physical or emotional abuse
- Sin
What are the consequences of such abnormal self-loathing ?
- Substance abuse
- Sexual promiscuity and immorality
- A critical spirit
- Materialism
How can these negative behaviours be fixed, cured and improved ?
- Realize who we are…. no better or worse than any other humans.
- Realize what God has done for us in Jesus Christ
- Realize the blessed hope we have for the future because of Jesus Christ
Our position when thinking about ourselves should be “… 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 Paul’s day, many were “puffed up with their own importance” and the BIBLE is about BALANCE and NOT extreme positions…… therefore I conclude that EITHER extreme is sinful and dangerous and we are to find the proper evaluation of ourselves by revelation of God in His Word and (through His Holy Spirit) in our daily living.
Stephen's Bible Insights 