We have a tendency to overestimate ourselves and inflate our positive qualities. Recently, researchers asked nearly a million high school seniors to assess their leadership skills. Seventy percent rated themselves as above average, while only 2 percent rated their leadership skills below average. In another study, 94 percent of college professors rated their work above average. Psychologists call this the “illusionary superiority” effect—where we think we’re better than we really are.
This “flawed self-assessment” is nothing new. The apostle Paul warned the believers in Rome about this “above average fallacy” long ago. He began by reminding them of his apostolic authority, laying a foundation for instruction he wanted them to accept and apply (Romans 12:3). He reminded them that God had granted each of them spiritual gifts and that they were to use them to be a blessing to others in the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-5). And so that they didn’t simply assume that they were worthy of these gifts, Paul warned them that the “illusionary superiority” effect could disrupt the unity of the body as they exercised their spiritual gifts.
Instead, the Roman believers were to strive to have a well-balanced evaluation of themselves. Then they would be able to use their gifts for the benefit of one another as they served side by side, functioning interdependently (Romans 12:5).
As living sacrifices, we’re to preserve the unity of the body of Christ by rejecting an attitude of pride or status and accepting a realistic view of ourselves. This will renew the realization that the gifts we’ve received have come from God, and it will inspire us to use them to be a blessing to others.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 28:15-31
More:
Read Philippians 2:3-8 and note how Jesus’ example should guide our view of ourselves and our relationship with other believers.
Next:
Why do we tend to compare ourselves with others and have a flawed self-assessment? Why is it important not to compare ourselves with other believers in the body of Christ?
alli on November 19, 2013 at 4:51 am
So true its easy to look at other believers thinking youre so holy but you lust steal and cheat, God doesnt measure our ‘goodness’ by anothers failure..’at least im not like him/her’ but by His righteous standards
tom felten on November 19, 2013 at 8:52 am
Marvin, I love these practical thoughts on humility penned by James: As the Scriptures say,’God opposes the proud but favors the humble.’ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (James 4:6-10). As we stand broken and humbled before God, there’s not room for arrogance.
rogera on November 19, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Scripture teaches us again & again, we ‘ought not to think more highly of (ourselves)’ than we should. Arrogance and self-pride are I think forms of idolatry; and the basis of so many other sins. As James admonishes, we need to humble ourselves before God lest we risk making the mistake of this idea of “‘flawed self assessment.” In light of God’s holiness & absolute perfection, an attitude of superiority & grandiosity in this life is a sure sign of spiritual immaturity. How anyone can read God’s Word and not miss this essential truth is beyond me.
However then there is the other other side of it, too: which too often contributes to all sorts of other problems & flaws in self-perception: that is, a fundamental lack of self esteem & self confidence; leading to negative self perceptions & insecurities. These types of feeling also then feed into patterns of self-defeating behaviors, which in turn perpetuate and exacerbate the problem. I know I personally have struggled with feelings of low self worth & insecurity most of my life; which I believe has obviously contributed to my pattern of not taking the steps & doing the things necessary for me to become and to do what God has intended for me.
Generally speaking my personal problems with “flawed self-assessment” have always been more like: Self-assessment — Flawed!
I know this also is sin; for Scripture tells me I am a New Creation, & can do ALL Things, through Jesus Christ. And I am thankful & give all praise & glory to Him Who rescued me. Too often though, I do not always take up the Full Armor of Salvation to withstand the fiery darts of the devil. Rather I allow the accuser to attack & weaken me at my most vulnerable places: Low self-esteem, lack of confidence, insecurities, & at times paper-thin faith.
I know I cannot be the only brother in God’s creation struggling with these problems of ‘flawed self-assessment’… Beyond mere platitudes, (i.e., cliched references to God’s Word & Promises) I would love to hear how others have dealt with chronic feelings of inadequacy, negative self-assessment, & insecurities (?)
rogermd on November 19, 2013 at 6:17 pm
To Rogera: Your post needs a longer response than is practical in this forum. I pray there will be a saint in your neighbourhood who will work with you through the questions you raise.
Sorry, I must begin with a negative! No you cannot do ALL things, no one can. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all these things…” specifically know how to get along in humble means and so on. The commentary to the new version of NIV is helpful here.
But about the rest: yes, Christians are as vulnerable to depression and low self-esteem as anyone. We have unmet expectations, including about ourselves. We have promises that God will be with us, and most of us have had seasons when He seemed very far away. He promises blessing and every good thing to enjoy, and most of us have had seasons of drought, disaster and loss. So, it can be difficult. Even chapters of the Bible and some psalms acknowledge these feelings and such seasons. Normally we get through them. Sometimes we become ill.
I have known a brother who was so overcome with self-doubt and guilt that he was checked into a mental home, and his witness was snuffed out. I know another who said to me “God sees me as a wretch and a sinner.” I was able to reply, “No, God sees the righteousness of his son that covers you. He has made you new.”
So scripture tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than is appropriate; it does not urge us to beat ourselves up. “My strength is made perfect in weakness,” he says to Paul.
Eyes on Jesus, not ourselves, is the ticket.
winn collier on November 23, 2013 at 11:42 pm
Having a proper view of ourselves (perhaps I should just say of myself) is a tricky thing. I tend toward pride or self-loathing, opposite sides of the same coin, I guess.