Is it realistic that God should be enough to provide self esteem?

[AliGrylls]

This is the first time I have started a thread here but I am really curious to know what people think, because I am studying it at the moment.

In Philippians (and various other places in the Bible) it talks about how knowing that God loves us should be enough to provide us with security and that self-esteem should be God-centred, rather than coming from material things like appearance and status. The idea seems to be that whatever we do as Christians, we should do to glorify God.

I am curious to know whether people think that this is realistic in this day and age. Say for example, I work as a solicitor for a corporate Law firm, or a make-up artist - how would I be able to justify that as glorifying God? After all, sometimes we have to do things to pay the bills, which is actually nothing to do with God and is a product of our materialistic society (which to a certain extent we all have to buy into).

hmmm.
I believe that everyone has a talent, and that you're glorifying God by using that talent and using it to the best of your abilities.
it does take a lot of people a very long time to realise what that talent is ,though, so maybe that's why it feels like such a grey area.
We do have preachers on this very subject quite often, so it's obviously quite a big thing theologically speaking.

I think it's all about how you do it. If you are a make up artist who is always kind and honest and looking for opportunities to serve other people, then you glorify God in whatever you are doing. Painting faces doesn't have to have a value in itself, but the person doing it can glorify God in whatever they do.

We don't have to live in sack cloth and ashes.

Jesus came so that we would have life and have it to the full.

There is nothing wrong with being a solicitor or a make-up artist. God has called you to those roles. You can work your Christian life through those roles, especially as both require you to build relationships with others, many who have no knowledge of the life-transforming power of the gospel.

John Wesley, the great Anglican preacher and founder of methodism, said: earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.

Jesus used wealthy people in his own ministry. He can and use us, if we are wealthy too. The key thing is not to love money itself, but to use it to further God's kingdom.

I agree, toddlerama. I think anyone in pretty well any line of work (apart from obv unethical and criminal) can be glorifying God through their work, through their interactions with others and how they react to situations. It's not just about the work they do, but how they do it - a good work ethic plus loving their neighbour, so to speak.

I'm too ill to hold down a job, so I've thought long and hard about our value as people and where it comes from. Does it come from what we do? Are we defined by what we do? Or is who we are. And who are we? As Christians we believe we are beloved children of God, and that should be at the root of how we see ourselves. In theory, therefore, anyone following God should feel good about themselves - after all, Jesus died for us.

This is blatantly not always the case; Christians suffer from low self-esteem and depression as others do. We live in a fallen world and live with the consequences of such. However many find they can be set free. I had low self esteem for years due to bullying at school but God did set me free from this and I am a different person, from not saying boo to a goose to being somewhat outspoken and more confident in general. My self esteem comes from God's view of me and God's love of me, not from what I am able to do - thankfully.

I sometimes wonder if we need to turn it all round a bit. I think society has a big emphasis on the 'me' and 'how I feel' and even in church circles 'what God can do for me.' Yet throughout the bible it is evident that we are created to glorify God. Could it be that in letting go of ourselves and glorifying God in all we do we find that peace and happiness we are striving for so much?

I think so, and have found this to be utterly true. I don't always succeed and usually go back to being pretty selfish and self absorbed. But there are times I look outside that and find that giving glory to God who made me fulfils me in the deepest way imaginable.

Oh - sorry for essay!! Good question OP.

madhairday, I find I really agree with you. I think of my pre-christian days and my Christian days and already (I have only been a Christian since february) my view of myself has changed so much. I feel like a switch flicked in me during that period. Whereas in my pre-Christian days I was always thinking "what am I going to do next?" (thinking about my own satisfaction) now I think "what can I do for God next?" and actually self esteem has changed. I feel so much more confident and God has actually taken me to a place where I have realised I am good at stuff (I suffered for years thinking I was rubbish at everything).

I love your response mindthegap. I will definitely have something to think about before tomorrow's discussion.

I think as long as you are acting ethically in your profession then this would be sufficient. Its unrealistic to think that all Christians can undertake charitable employment, work as nurses etc (and honestly if you are taking money for doing anything is it really that selfless and god glorifying?) I would have thought a make-up artist who followed Christian principles in their professional life and probably contributed to the community outside of work is being pretty god-centred. You can be an ambassador in whatever you do.

The self esteem thing is tricky, its pretty hard to ignore the lure of possessions in our society, and certain individuals are accorded more respect than others. I think if you are surrounded by a community of likeminded individuals it might be possible to see these things for what they really are - not particularly important in the grand scheme of things.

and you're welcome to join the religion chat thread - you'll see that we help each other- being a sounding board is sometimes just as useful as being active in anything. :)

I loved reading about how becoming a Christian has changed you as a person AliGrylls ! I do believe there is a definite connection between self esteem and selflessness. Whenever I do anything to help someone else, it makes me feel useful - and therefore happy and confident. As the other posters have said, as long as you try to be thoughtful to others in your professional life, I don t think it matters what your work is. If you feel it is not a "charitable" enough profession for you, you could always do a bit of voluntary work now and again to give you that "feel good" factor.

the bible has a lot to say about work and that working hard is the right thing to do the bible severely critisises the lazy and idle. ( this in no way whatsoever means those you can not work [whether ill or unable to find work]it means those that could but won't)

It emphasises the importance of work in providing for your own family children parents and grandparents and that the church should really only have to support the " real widows and orphans" with no means of support

so whatever your work ( so long as not unethical) you are glorifying God as you are obeying him by working, it changes your perspective as you work as if God is your boss; not stopping for gossip chat coffee the minute boss is out of the room or if you are the boss being fair honest and right wih your employees not expecting people to do unpaid overtime and equally not expecting them to waste your time either

Self - esteem comes from knowing that we are "made in image of God" and he considers us valuable " the hairs of your head are numbered" even when bad stuff happens

in the world then slaves were common and their status was low so even though they remained slaves ( though they were told to buy their freedom if they possibly could) the masters were reminded that both slaves and masterswere equal in God's eyes "for in Christ there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek, bond nor free for they are all one in Christ Jesus"

I think that like others have said, whatever your job, you will come into contact with people (in the vast majority of jobs anyway). You'll have to work alongside people and being a Christian is important and will have an impact in any situation where you come into contact with others. And actually the people that we come into contact with on a daily basis are not people in what we may consider to be really 'Godly' or worthwhile jobs, ministers, doctors, nurses, charity workers people who work for human rights etc. Instead we come into contact with our colleagues, shopworkers, street cleaners, admin staff, librarians, people who answer the phone when we ring various places to enquire about various things! So these are people who can make a real impression on people in quite a short encounter in some cases. So yes I would can work for his glory in any situation and any profession.

What about a painter though, who works entirely on their own, creating work that people may not even see? It's hard to generalise. I am not a painter but I am a fashion designer and I had to go through questioning it all, wondering if I ought to be in some foreign field helping the poor (or something..). But this is clearly where I'm meant to be. I do have opportunities to practise ethically (eg sourcing fabrics) but sometimes I am led to full-on bling - which is wonderful! I derive so much joy from what I do: He is, after all, the Creator and His designs are pretty awesome! Beauty for beauty's sake - fantastic.