How do you think of yourself? Do you know most of how we see ourselves is about feelings and not appearance? So, let’s rephrase the question. How to you feel about yourself? Do you feel confident? Are you feeling unfit? Do you feel insecure? Do you ever sit and take inventory of yourself?
We see a lot of commercials, and perhaps more now than ever, that tell us to buy something to make ourselves feel better about ourselves. It may be a new dress. I may be a new pair of shows. Perhaps it is new furniture. Or maybe it’s a new car. Whatever it is, the advertisement tells us we will feel wonderful about ourselves after we’ve purchased it.
Unfortunately, far too many people in this world believe it. They attempt to boost their own self-esteem by purchasing something. One more thing will make the difference. Then they find out it doesn’t. They find out that within a few days or weeks or months, that thing they bought has no positive effect on them.
Paul tells us to not think too highly of ourselves. Notice, he doesn’t say we are to think too lowly of ourselves either. He says we are to take an honest look at ourselves, truly evaluate ourselves, and view ourselves with “sober judgment.” Yet that’s not all. We are to view ourselves in accordance with our faith in God. In other words, how is our faith in God and how does that impact how we look at ourselves?
We will all agree that God is more than we can truly comprehend with our human minds. Okay, let’s put that aside for this discussion. Let’s take a look at our faith in Him. If our faith is strong, we will look at ourselves through God’s eyes and make an honest assessment. We’ll see where our strengths and weaknesses are. We’ll recognize our strengths as blessings from God. We will ask God to strengthen our weaknesses. And when He does, we’ll give Him the glory for doing so.
Do you see how this changes our entire viewpoint about ourselves? We recognize who God is and what He has done for us. We then see that we are merely a person through whom God works His plan. That keeps us from thinking too highly of ourselves. We also recognize that God loves us and blesses us, which keeps us from looking too lowly upon ourselves. We find balance.
I pray each one of us will view ourselves as God views us. I pray we all take stock in God’s love for us. I pray we don’t think too highly or too lowly of ourselves but find the balance. Recognize God loves you. See Him as far more powerful than you can imagine. View yourself through God’s eyes. Find the balance that only God can provide.
Romans 12:3 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 faith God has distributed to each of you.
Marty Pressey 