Running the Race

Part 1: What (RACE) and Why – for rewards: Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also … let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross...

Respond to God’s Revelation.

Accept and complete the task assigned to you.

Conform to Christ, not to the world.

Edify, exhort, encourage one-another, exhibiting Gods love.

Part 2: How – manner: with a proper self-esteem: Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Part 3: How – means: by changing your values

A. Level of Self-Esteem

Research shows that self-esteem is the strongest predictor of life satisfaction in the US, outstripping all demographic and objective outcomes such as age, income, education, physical health, marital status, and all other psychological variables. Low self-esteem has been invoked as an explanation for, or a contributing factor in aggression, poor school achievement, adverse health outcomes, substance abuse, eating disorders, teenage pregnancy, marital discord and more.

Rom 12: 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Proverbs 18:4 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?

B. Contingencies of Self-Esteem

1. Appearance

1 Peter 3: 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward––arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel–– 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit

2. Competition

Phil 2: 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

3. Academic Performance

1 Cor 8:1 Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

4. Approval From Others

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

5. Family Support

Matt 12: 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

6. Virtue

2 Pet 1: 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

6 to knowledge self–control, to self–control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

Gal 6:4 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

7. God’s Love

Genesis 4: 6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; 2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1.       Why do so many people have a low self-esteem? In what ways is Satan working in our lives to give us a wrong self-image?

2.       How does a low self-esteem hinder you from being useful for God’s purposes? Can a very high self-esteem hinder you? If so, in what ways?

3.       What is your self-esteem based on? Are you ‘doing well’? How can you write God’s commands on the ‘tablet of your heart’?

4.       How can you help someone whose self-image and self-esteem are damaged?

5.       What steps can you take this week to develop a Biblical self-esteem?