Romans 12:3 - Healthy Self-Esteem.
Romans 12:3 (NKJV) 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 (NIV) For by the grace given me
I say to every one of you: Do not think of
yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think
of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance
with the measure of faith God has given you.
Romans 12:3 (NLT) Because of the privilege
and authority God has given me, I give each of
you this warning: Dont think you are better
than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation
of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the
faith God has given us.
INTRODUCTION
Healthy Self-Esteem
Healthy self-esteem is important because
some of us think too little of ourselves; on the
other hand, some of us overestimate ourselves. The
key to an honest and accurate self-evaluation is
knowing the basis of our self-worth - our identity
in Christ. Apart from him, we aren't capable of
very much by eternal standards; in him, we are
valuable and capable of worthy service. Evaluating
yourself by the worldly standards of success and
achievement can cause you to think too much about your
worth in the eyes of others and thus miss your
true value in God's eyes. [Life Application SB]
Growing in Your Faith
Some people have "no faith" (Mark 4:40),
while others have "little faith" (Matt. 6:30). God
wants us to have "great faith" (Matt. 8:10;
15:28). Faith is like a seed that grows if it is
planted and cultivated in the heart (Matt. 17:20).
The Word of God encourages faith (Rom. 10:17).
As you exercise your faith in times of trial
and testing, your faith grows and you glorify
God (James 1:1-8; 1 Pet. 1:1-9). It is faith,
not feeling, that gives the victory (1 John
5:1-5). [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by
Warren Wiersbe re Mat. 8-9]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Healthy Self-Esteem Is Imparted From Jesus
When my athletically talented son,
Pierce, was young, he played youth-league sports.
Even when the team was totally awful, each child
received a trophy. I know that the well-meaning idea
was to encourage budding athletes. However, I
feared the real result was that the children would
get a distorted sense of their true abilities. I
worried that their value would be on shaky ground
indeed, with all sorts of negative consequences
including both false pride and lousy self-esteem.
While some of us, including me, can
certainly suffer from paralyzing insecurities, I think
many of us have a harder time having the kind of
"sober" self-judgment Paul speaks of in this verse.
Paul also addresses the key to objective
self-assessment: recognizing all we are and have is due
solely to the grace of God.
Jesus embodied the opposite of the
unearned trophy practice. He didn't assert His
equality to God; He made Himself humble (Philippians
2:68).
While Pierce is, in fact, an excellent
athlete, I've urged him to stay humble and recognize
his abilities are gifts to develop and enjoy,
but they're not his identity. Healthy
self-esteem comes from knowing our true value is
imparted from Jesus and to be used for His glory.
That's the real trophy! Isabella Campolattaro
[Mornings With Jesus 2023 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Viewing Ourselves Rightly
No one is immune to the sin of
self-exaltation. To find evidence of this, simply enter any
kindergarten classroom. In this little group of children,
soon enough somebody will be singing their own
praises about building the tallest block tower or
drawing the best family portrait - in other words,
thinking of themselves more highly than they ought.
Constantly comparing ourselves with other
people is a worldly way to think. An exaggerated
view of ourselves is a dreadful problem - one
that puts others down and ignores our place
before God. The answer, though, is not found in
self-denigration, which is the opposite and equal error to
self-exaltation. This self-disparagement is also the product
of pride because it still surfaces from
comparison. It is still self-focused.
The Christian's view of self should be
grounded in a mind renewed by God (Romans 12:2). With
this perspective, we find our value in God's
mercy and grace. Our significance, identity,
worth, and role all find their foundation in who
God is and what He has done for us, not on
account of who we are or what we've done for Him.
We are reminded of this proper
perspective of self when we sing the lines "When I
survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of
glory died." To survey the cross is to focus on
the gospel - the truth that another has died in
our place and borne our punishment. In doing
this, we realize that "my richest gain I count but
loss, and pour contempt on all my pride." The
cross raises us and lowers us at the same time,
and this frees us from needing to push ourselves
forward in life and enables us to acknowledge ways
in which God has gifted us. This is thinking of
ourselves with 'sober judgment."
The church, then, is to be noticeably
different from the world in the way we view ourselves
and each other. When we come together, united by
the gospel, all else that relates to our
identity, though not irrelevant, loses its primary
significance, and we use our gifts not to please ourselves
but to serve others.
Look at the cross, where your Savior bled
and died for your sins because He loves you.
There is no room for you to feel proud. There is
no need for you to compare yourself to others.
Instead, you can use all that He has given you in
selfless, joyful service of others. [Truth for Life by
Alistair Begg]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Philippians 2:5 - Having the Mind of Jesus.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220312-0934.html
Romans 12:15 - How to Lessen Your Friends
Pain.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210316-0941.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
