In Christian Circles, Where Do We Get Our Value or Self-Esteem From?

INTRODUCTION

In Christian circles, where do we get our value or self-esteem from? The easiest way to answer this is to say from God. As well, we should. But is this actually the case?

In my younger years, I was brought up in a worldwide faith. There was a lot to love about it. My parents were members, and at birth, I was sprinkled in water, signifying that I, too, became a representative because I was declared to be a child of God. As the years went by, I learned about the tenets of this faith and eventually became an altar boy.

During my teen years, I attended a private religious high school whose religious beliefs were the same as those in my earlier years. After graduation, I attended a four-year liberal arts college. With all of my prior education in the godly realm, I stopped attending church. Why was that? It was because I didn’t want to be under the rules of conduct. Some would call these the Ten Commandments.

During my college years, like many, I enjoyed partying. I dabbled in alcohol, drugs, and women. I graduated with a 4-year Bachelor of Science degree. But little did my parents and friends know that I was in a spiral. Getting a job teaching high school math was next to near impossible. I broke up with my girlfriend for independence’s sake. And my indulgences of a reckless life of drugs, alcohol, and women continued.

I knew that I needed to break free from this poisonous lifestyle. So, I decided to go back to church. I reasoned that if God exists, He could help me in these areas of desperation. Where would I find Him? Hopefully, somewhere in the church. Which one? Who knows?

It didn’t matter the faith. I’d try this one for a week, maybe two, or even a month, and then another. How would I determine which one was the one for me? I was looking for a personal God that I could interact with.

And then it happened. I had a personal encounter with God. I was alive in my spirit. I started attending a local church in my hometown, met my wife there, attended an affiliated 2-year Bible College, graduated Summa Cum Laude, and I’ve been teaching the Word of God ever since.

Where does this leave me concerning this study? More qualified than I was thirty years ago. I began this introduction by talking about where we, Christians, get our confidence from. While many of us would say God, I’ll venture to say for some, it’s from the theology of the church they’re attending.

What the leadership teaches and how they teach it will profoundly affect how we think about ourselves, especially on the topic this study will focus on. Are you ready for it? Financial giving. Moolah. Money. I can’t tell you how often this subject turned me inside out.

Are you ready to find out that there are two schools of thought about what Scriptures support financial giving and whether somebody should give a certain amount? There are at least two reasons for such diversity on this topic.

The first one has to do with dispensations. Huh? We’ll talk about this in chapter one. Please turn there. But before we do, I’d like to leave us with a brief article on giving back/helping others. I enjoyed reading this because of the self-centered approach to achieving specific goals and yet with people-centered outcomes. Enjoy.



MY LOVE FOR HELPING OTHERS

When I think of my future [life] in college and beyond, a single word comes to mind: helping. By going to college, I will eventually be helping others, helping my family, and helping myself. I have a great passion for serving other people, and [I] greatly wish to follow this passion in my future occupation.

My love of helping other people began at a very young age. I have been an active member of my church and community for quite a while. I have participated in many community service [activities, such as Vacation Bible School, Operation Suffolk, and I have even gone on numerous mission trips. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and even Haiti are all locations I have had the great opportunity to share my faith]. Although each was eye-opening, one trip was the most influential event in my young life so far.

In Montrouis, Haiti, my team and I stared into the eyes of poverty itself. Seeing the sea of poor, starving faces broke my heart. However, they did not look miserable and were not filled with hatred in the face of adversity. Instead, the Haitian people were full of love and joy and were concerned with our well-being over theirs. They understood the value of people over possessions, a value I have brought back into my ordinary American life. These astounding people not only opened up my heart [to] mission work but also helped me realize what I want to do after my college career.

In my heart, I see myself on a career path where I can continue to help people every day. After much consideration, I have set my studies on obtaining the certification to become a recreational therapist. I chose this occupation because I will have the ability to help people of all ages and from all walks of life every day. I know that I will excel greatly in this field because I will use all [of the attributes my family has taught me over the years,] such as hard work, perseverance, and studious habits.

My success is so important to me because I wish to receive a great education, but I also wish to help my parents when I get older. I live in a very close-knit family, and my parents are very important to me. I will use my savings and money made from my new occupation to make sure my parents are living comfortably. The reason that caring for my parents is such a major factor for me is because of how much they have done for me in my life and my upbringing, and I would like to show them how appreciative I am of that.

Overall, helping others, my family, and ultimately, myself are all important factors in my life and describe my future college experience as a whole. Getting an education will help [me] and my parents financially. I will then use my education to continue to help an insurmountable amount of people every day of my life. I cannot wait to attend college and make these dreams come true , helping as many people as I possibly can.1



1Madellyn. “My Love for Helping Others,” Varsity Tutors 4 January 2024

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