Esteem

Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

In a short lesson on this Bible verse, they highlight that in this verse, Paul challenged us to refrain from any “strife” or “vainglory”— words that seem a bit stern in the colloquial and idiomatic terms of our day. Big “fifty cent” words to say selfish ambition or vain conceit are harsh words in our everyday speech today, but need to be defined for the .

Per Strong’s dictionary of Bible Words, “Eritheia” is the Greek word for “strife” here — a faction of contentious political maneuvering for greater power, seeking to win followers in self-seeking rivalry. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines “strife” as: Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts. “Vainglory” is similar. Strong’s dictionary states that it comes from the Greek word “kenodoxia”, meaning an empty pride, vain conceit or groundless self-esteem. Webster’s dictionary defines “vainglory” as: Exclusive vanity excited by one's own performances; empty pride; undue elation of mind. Defining the terms help in understanding the severity of the issue. Both are rather unpleasant descriptions of the foolish and sinful human behavior that is seen all too often.

Galatians 5:26 “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another”.

On the contrary, we are challenged to “esteem” the others in our fellowship as “better than” ourselves. The precise words in this instruction insist that we are to use deliberate and careful judgment in our evaluation of others in our relationships as being more “excellent” than what we have thought of ourselves.

In Romans 11:33-12:3, the Apostle Paul explains, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

The lesson points out how that goes against most of what we have been taught in our Western educational systems. Self-esteem is required by etiquette or current political correctness in our schools, songs, internet, movies, and television programs. In fact, “positive thinking” and “prosperity thinking” are very little more than self-esteem dressed up in informal terms. In the biblical “body” analogy, we are told in 1 Corinthians 12:23-24, that “those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor… having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked”. The opposite of self-esteem is esteeming others. The opposite of "selfish" is sacrifice out of love of God and others.

God thinks differently. Flip your thinking on esteem. We are told to, with lowliness of mind, think of each other like God thinks. Blessings.