Self Esteem in Troubled Times - Part 1

God made Solomon the wisest, richest, most powerful man ever. The man had the most creative ideas, financed them, and commanded that they be carried out. Talk about topping the Forbes list! However, God gave us Solomon as an example--a man who launched the ultimate flesh trip so that we could reject the “If only...” lies that Satan feeds us on how to be content. Solomon’s flesh trip reads like tabloid journalism. He’d be Oprah’s guest. By the world’s standards he should’ve had the highest self-esteem, greatest peace of mind, fulfillment, and contentment. However, what was Solomon’s mid-life conclusion? “All (that’s A double L, gang) is vanity,” and he was depressed out of his tree. Man can never experience lasting contentment via the flesh.

One of America’s first astronauts became clinically depressed soon after his hero’s welcome parade. Why? Solomon had set the curve for him, but the astronaut didn’t make the connection; neither man had additional horizons to conquer. Been there, done that, and it was vanity. No lasting contentment via the flesh.

Bankruptcies, divorce, layoffs, an economy in shambles...What’s happening? Where is God? Why doesn’t He do something? Doesn’t He know we are precariously close to chaos? Dear friend, God is doing something. He’s the One Who is tottering all false security, sandy foundations, “crowding” us to build with the only permanent Construction Material in the universe—Christ (1 Cor. 3:10-15). God has enrolled you in the University of Earth to equip you for your eternal, post-grad occupation, reigning over the new social order with Jesus (Rev. 21:1-2; 22:5). A biblical interpretation of the purpose of the struggle you’re experiencing offers hope in the midst of these chaotic times (Rom. 5:3ff; Jas. 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:6-7).

Jesus was a failure by the world’s standard. He was a totally dependent adult who never made a move without His Father’s approval. You might say Jesus was the world’s “weakest” man because He did nothing in His own strength. He never cut the apron strings; He quit His day job, and was completely broke at death. His friends rejected Him in His hour of greatest need. He was unjustly executed after a kangaroo court’s so-called trial, yet He died depression-free. Where did He get the self-esteem to handle this? “Oh, Bill, He was God; He could handle anything.” Of course He was, but he was also a real human being living in the real world for thirty-three long years. And gang, He didn’t have cast iron emotions! And yet, through Him we do not simply survive, but are “more than conquerors.” We don’t kick a field goal as time expires. We’re ahead by 84-0!

Jesus never adopted Satan’s “survival” mode temptation (living to satisfy His own needs). He depended totally on the Father as His only Source. That’s why He wouldn’t perform even a small miracle for Himself, turning a stone into bread. He’d starve before He’d do that. Are we so presumptuous as to believe it’s up to us to meet our own needs when Christ didn’t live that way? Jesus chose the weak road. “...the Father that dwells in Me, He does His works” (Jn 14:10) was His life-verse. And we experience Christ’s strength through us in the same manner. It’s a faith deal. Self must decrease that Jesus might your only Strength. God was Jesus’ only Source. Who’s yours?

~See Part 2 next week