Joel Hendon

Assessing One’s Esteem By God, Self And Others


Posted: Sunday, September 04, 2011

by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html

Many feel that self esteem is of ultimate importance. I don’t. It is my own opinion that to be highly esteemed by others and most especially, by God is of the ultimate importance. Let’s look at them one at a time.

First of all the assessment God makes concerning man is most important because it is the accurate one. He doesn’t size a person up because of his looks and is not misled by one’s trying to impress others or God Himself. Read these scriptures to see how God knows and how he feels about it.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7 KJV)

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) (1 Kings 8:39 KJV)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV)

So, of course, it is of utmost importance that one is highly esteemed by God, and He is not mocked. He knows what is in man.

Secondly, it is very important to be highly esteemed by one’s fellow man. It is a sure bet that not all will esteem you highly but those who count are the ones who, themselves are striving to be highly esteemed of God. If one is living as nearly in accordance to the doctrine of Jesus Christ as possible, he will be esteemed by others of like faith. He also needs to be esteemed by others as well, those outside of Christ can be far more influenced by one who is living a good life before them. A Christian is supposed to live a life which is above reproach. It is truth that some will find fault with the best possible person, they did with Jesus Christ, who never sinned.

But to live in a manner that those faults, or accusations are not true, is the goal. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he says that a bishop (referencing an elder, or overseer) must be blameless. Blameless does not mean that one must never sin. It means that wrongdoing must not be to the extent others would ridicule or accuse him of some fault in his life. And to be blameless means that if one is accused of such, that it must not be true. Otherwise, he could not be qualified for that office in the Lord’s church. But the rule is just the same for any Christian. A Christian’s life must be exemplary.

Now the last point is that of one’s own self-esteem. There are some fine lines here. One does need to have a factual esteem of himself. He should know if he is doing his best and he ought to know quite accurately, those things that he is capable of doing as well as knowing what he cannot do. An exaggerated self esteem turns one into an obnoxious boor.

It is also unrealistic of Christianity.

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. (1 Corinthians 4:6 KJV)

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; (Romans 12:10 KJV)

It is not to say that one must feel inferior to others but rather, that he be humble and recognize that any degree of excellence or mastery that he may possess, is a gift of God and is not of his own doing.

Can you imagine a world where all men took the attitude of “preferring one another”? Wishing no ill will towards any man? When one criticizes the Holy Bible and/or Christianity, they fail to see the truths contained in the Bible itself. The criticisms come because they see men who choose to wear the name “Christian” and yet, fail to come near the requirements of being one 
Author Biography: Joel Hendon was born near Gadsden Alabama. He attended public schools in Cherokee County, Alabama and after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended Jacksonville State University, majoring in Business Administration. He became a Christian in 1948, and although he followed secular work as a career and retired from Allied Signal Aerospace, he is an avid student of the Holy Bible and related works as well as biblical history. He has an extensive website of conservative religious and political articles.http://hebronics.org/index.html

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