Believe In Yourself / Self Esteem / Self Importance / Self Entitlement?

More common phrases that drive me batty – and I rolled them all into one post because they are pretty much the same thing. (Yup, the rant posts are now considered a saga! XD The first three installments are: Follow Your Heart, or Be True To Your Heart?, Be Yourself?, and You Only Live Once…?) This one really drives me crazy, so I’m really going to go at it. However you slice it, whether it’s believing in self, or believing that we are important, or we need to be esteemed, or we are entitled to something, it’s just… wrong. X)

Luke 18: 9: And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.”

There. We should be eating humble pie, not focusing on how great we think we are. I mean, let’s face it. We aren’t so great. X) Do we ever do something and think, “I love how this turned out! This is great! Look what I did!” when it isn’t us at all, but God? This leads to pride. Pretty much the whole 6th chapter of Proverbs deals with things that the Lord hates, and pride is on that list:

Proverbs 6:16: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.

And there is also:

1st Epistle of John 2:15: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

A proud look. Pride. And lots of other bad stuff.

Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

If all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, then why would one want to esteem and praise self? We should esteem and praise God, because He is the only one Who is perfect!

Gospel of John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Now this is Someone Who is important and entitled – this is Someone Whom I would want to esteem, believe in, and praise, for He is worthy!  🙂