How do you like me now?

You really need to get over yourself.  Quite possibly even as much as I need to get over me. 

For 35 years I have been wrestling with biblical principles regarding the concepts of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-image.  The failure to heed the directive of Romans 12 to “think of yourself with sober judgment” is devastating to all of our relationships.  If I think too highly of myself I fall into the trap of hubris.  But, I am just as fruitless if I see myself as insignificant as “a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floor of silent seas.”

In a few digestible thought-bite sized posts I’ll share the thought process and the road to freedom from this type of servitude. Having been bought with the blood of God we are told not become the slaves of men, which I believe to include the lies we believe on this topic.

The foundation is found in Jesus’ words regarding the commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[There is no commandment greater than these.“ (Mark 12:30-31). Getting this right does not sound optional.

We do love our neighbors as we love ourselves, that’s the problem.  The ability to unselfishly care for others is proportional to the ability to be centered on something other than self.  A complete other focus won’t work any better so a new solution is required.  I will need to settle the self-love question so that I can truly love others.

When the Father says “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me” I am tempted to parse the sentence in a clintonesque way.  Does that mean that if “me” is my god then I’m in compliance?  Of course not, but I will contend that as long as I am focused on “me” my relationship with both you and God is compromised. To avoid the idolatry of putting you or me before God, another solution is required.

Whether I am a person who enters a crowded room to announce,” I’m here you lucky people; love me!” or I quietly slip into the room imagining every person’s impression of me, it’s time for a change. While I’m doing this any chance for real interaction, much less service, is lost.  It is very difficult to relate to my neighbor when a mirror obstructs my vision.

What I know for sure is this; if we can learn to look at ourselves the way God does we’ll stop thinking about ourselves so much. With Him in his rightful governing place in my life I enjoy the acceptance and power He provides. Then I know that I am loved, accepted, uniquely gifted, and designed for a mission that may only be accomplished by someone with an unobstructed vision of my neighbor.