Back in the late 70's and the early 80's there was a lot of emphasis put on the subject of how we ought to view ourselves. Books were written to help individuals to feel better about them selves, to grow in self awareness, self esteem and self appreciation. It seemed as if the divorce rates along with suicides were increasing at a rapid rate. Products and magazines became available to help individuals to feel better about them selves.
I was provided the opportunity through my company to attend seminars that dealt largely with this subject. I learned about "stinking thinking," and how we all needed a "check-up" from the "neck-up" from men like Zig Ziegler, Norman Vincent Peale, Paul Harvey, Dr. Joyce Brothers and others that traveled the country with lectures on self worth. For about a year and a half I taught classes at church to the various adult classes as well as divorce recovery groups on this very subject.
It became more evident that God's word has much to say about attitudes toward self, and as christians it is vital that we are aware of, and teach these biblical attitudes and perspectives, instead of being solely influenced by contemporary philosophies and the thoughts of non christian psychologist and others that claimed to have all the answers.
How we view ourselves is deeply inrooted in the fact thar we are created to be like God. In Gen. 1: 26, we read that we are created in the image of God. Contrary to what many teach, human beings are unique in all creation; we are special. We have an unlimited potential for growth and change. In Eph. 4:22, Paul teaches us that the new creation we become at conversion is unlike our former way of life. Rather, we are to put on the new self created to be like God, in true righteousness and holiness. It is unfortunate when Christians view themselves as weak, helpless, hopeless individuals at the mercy and whim of their environment.
Isaiah, 64:8 tells us we must see ourselves as "clay" in the potter's hand. Our goal is not merely to become more religious, but to become more like Jesus, until ultimately as Paul said, "Christ is formed in you" Gal. 4:19. If we wonder why we are not becoming more christlike, the problem may be that we are not consistantly and totally submitting ourselves to the Lord. Clay, regardless of the quality cannot form itself; it must be worked by the potter's hand. It does not argue, or resist the hand of the sculptor. I have found that self-help programs have at least one fundamental weakness: the reliance upon man instead of God. Is our attitude one of submission or rebellion?

To be continued