Biblical Self-Esteem Bible Study

Before doing this Bible study, please read the 1-minute introduction Whose Praise are we seeking?

It explains that we live in the age of self-esteem, not God-esteem. Sadly, this worldly emphasis has spawned false teachings in the church. Instead of seeking to please God, many Christians are seeking to please themselves.

What do the passages below tell us about our purpose and priorities as Christians?

Luke 9:23-25: Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 

This passage sums up discipleship in a nutshell. It is what our Savior did and what we are called to do as well. I encourage you to take time to read some or all of the devotions in the Biblical Self-Esteem collection, especially Research Shows the Harm of Self-esteem.

Galatians 5:16, 24: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh....Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Some people might read this passage and think it is only talking about immoral sexual desires. Not so. Wanting to esteem ourselves is also a desire of the flesh. 

1 John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The pride of life certainly includes pride in ourselves a thing promoted by self-esteem teachings. See The Glory is God's, Not Ours.

Matthew 6:31-33: So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

While this passage doesn't directly address self-esteem, it tells us that first and foremost we should be seeking to do those things which please God, making God's desires and God's glory our first priority. We shouldn't be seeking "our kingdom." 

And a promise follows this command, the promise that God will care for us when we seek Him first. We may not have everything we want. In fact, God doesn't promise we will always be well fed and warm (see Paul's words in Philippians 4:12). But we will always have Him (see Hebrews 13:5) and that is our greatest need.

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I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. 

It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. 

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated 2023