Many define self-esteem as “feelings of worth based on their skills, accomplishments, status, financial resources, or appearance.” This kind of self-esteem can lead a person to feel independent and prideful and to indulge in self-worship, which dulls our desire for God. James 4:6 says, But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. This does not mean that Christians should have low self-esteem. It means that our sense of worth should not depend on what we do, but rather on who we are in Christ. We need to humble ourselves before Him, and He will honor us. Ephesians 1:6 says, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. The Christian’s sense of worth is based on  a right relationship with God.

In one sense, low self-esteem is the opposite of pride. In another sense, low-self-esteem is a form of pride. Some people have low self-esteem because they want people to feel sorry for them, to pay attention to them, to comfort them. Low self-esteem can be a declaration of “look at me” just as much as pride. It simply takes a different route to get to the same destination, that is, self-absorption, self-obsession, and selfishness.

Instead, we are to be selfless, to die to self, and to deflect any attention given to us to the God who created and sustains us. We should conduct ourselves with humility, thinking of others as better than ourselves. Philippians 2:3 says, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.