The Economics of Self Worth - Part 3

In my previous post, I said that secular psychology tells us that we must find self-esteem within ourselves, that “self-esteem is not given or obtained from external things.” In fact, psychologists believe that feelings of worthlessness come from outside of ourselves (what others have told us), and that they are incorrect (because we really are worthy and good, after all).

I know it sounds like they are contradicting themselves, but they’re not – they’ve just got it backwards. They’re saying that the problem (low self-esteem/low self-worth) originates from outside ourselves, but the solution (positive self-esteem/self-worth) is found within ourselves.

Actually, the exact opposite is true. The problem of low self-esteem/low self-worth originates from within. According to Romans 3:8-9 and other verses, we really are worthless, and at some level, we all know it.

Since the problem is within us (or more accurately, the problem is us), then the solution must come from somewhere outside of us.

Let me make it clear that our worth is not found in ourselves. The idea of self-worth is an oxymoron. It would be like Paris Hilton telling herself that she’s a self-made millionaire, just so she can feel better about herself. In the same manner, telling yourself you have worth or value (or teaching our children to have “healthy” self esteem) is actually self-righteousness. And calling someone “self-righteous” is not considered a compliment.

Self-worth is an oxymoron because our worth is found in our righteousness, which doesn’t come from ourselves – it comes from God. Here’s how:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)

And:

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Rom 3:22)

In other words, by dying the sinner’s death we deserved, Jesus took our sin upon himself and gave us his righteousness, and we receive it through faith.

Romans 5:19 says that through the obedience of Jesus (i.e., his death on the cross), “the many” (that’s us) will be “made righteous.” The word righteous can also be translated “innocent” or “equitable.” All of these words are adjectives, and one of the things an adjective does is describe, or modify, a noun. According to Ephesians 2:3-5, we were by nature objects of wrath. But now, we’ve been made the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). In other words, we’ve been modified!

The second thing an adjective does is expresses an attribute of something. Now, an attribute is a characteristic or quality. We all have physical characteristics, such tall or short, blond or brunette. We also have certain characteristics of our personality (i.e., our soul), such as serious or funny, outgoing or shy. These are part of who we are, our nature.

But remember, we are three-part beings. Beside a body and a soul, we also have a spirit – our human spirit. Because we are righteous, our spirit has the attribute or characteristic of righteousness.

What does this have to do with self worth? Everything, because your spirit is the “real you.” Paul put it like this:

I know there is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do good but I do not. I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I am always doing the sinful things I do not want to do. If I am always doing the very thing I do not want to do, it means I am no longer the one who does it. It is sin that lives in me. (Rom 7:18-20, New Life Version)

Paul knew that the “I” he spoke of, his spirit man, was not the one sinning. Your soul either obeys your flesh or it obeys your spirit. (Galatians 5:17 says that the flesh and the Holy Spirit dwelling within you are at war with one another.) But neither the Holy Spirit, nor your spirit, nor your flesh can will you to act. They can only communicate their desires to your mind. (This is why it’s so important to renew your mind, in order to not be deceived by your flesh and/or the devil.) Your mind ultimately decides what to do and communicates that to your will, which enables you to act. The Holy Spirit communicates (fellowships) with your human spirit. But Satan has access to us through our flesh. In that way, he is a counterfeit Holy Spirit, but an unholy one!

This means that the real you is not the one who is sinning. If we base our worth on how well or not-so-well we behave, we’re in trouble, because the former leads to self righteousness, and the latter leads to self condemnation. Neither one is an accurate assessment of how God sees you or values you. God relates to you through grace, that is, he accepts you on the basis of what Jesus did, and not what you do. In other words, you can’t do anything to improve your status or standing with God, because you are right-eous. You have “right” standing with God, not “wrong” standing!

Want more? Go to Part 4.