Self-Esteem

We Americans are a confident people. I read the other day that in a recent survey, ninety-four percent of our college professors believe they have above average teaching skills. A survey of our high school students found that 70 percent of them believe that they have “above average” leadership skills and only 2% believe that they have “below average” leadership skills. Our students also have great faith in their mathematical ability, while students in Japan and South Korea have much lower self confidence…and much higher test scores.

Of course it starts early. All of our children are “above average”. Mine are. What about yours? And “better” looking too. What about yours? Isn’t life all about being better than average…or at least fooling ourselves into thinking we are?

Fortunately, it’s not difficult to become a “legend in your own mind”…not when the whole system is geared up for it, not when “self-esteem” is the order of the day…whether the belief is real or delusional.

So why aren’t we happier? Why do Americans consume 80% – that’s right 80% – of the pain killers manufactured in the WORLD? And who knows what percent of the anti-anxiety drugs? Or drugs in general?

Here’s a “crazy” thought, from another time and place:

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” – Romans 12:3-5 (NIV)

I can’t think of anything that anyone could ever say, more at odds with the spirit of our time; its worship of the solitary self; its fear of sacrificing individual needs to higher needs.

Another “crazy thought”:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

“Humble” yourself? When did you last hear that exhortation? When did you ever hear that call outside of church? And you won’t. Here’s what you’ll hear:

“We’re Number One!”
“We’re Number One!”
“We’re Number One!”


Other Posts You Might Like:

Disaster! - Ross Thomson

Spiritual Beings and Human Experiences - Brandon Bell

Passion - Jabbarri Jones

Coffee Interrupted - Laurie Templeton

An Honest Holiday Season - Mark Kennell

cr

cr

baby dedication

Location
McKinney at Cardinal

101 Cardinal Drive
Denton, TX 76209

940.387.4355

map

Sunday Worship Schedule
9:30 - Worship (English Service)
10:10 - Bible Class (Birth to 8th grade following the Kid's church time until the end of service)
11:00 - Worship (Spanish Service)

Wednesday Evening Schedule
6:30 - Celebrate Recovery

More Singing Oaks Websites
youthcmccc

icon_bulletin View Worship Bulletin

icon_listen Listen to Sermons

icon_listenMember Login

icon_bulletin Resources