A deceased friend of mine used to jokingly say, "The thing I admire most about myself is that I am not conceited." But in all seriousness, one of the strongest traits of fallen human nature is self-admiration and self-esteem. This attitude and disposition is highly promoted in our society. I have seen Jessie Jackson on T.V. in classrooms exhorting the children to repeat after him, "I am somebody," in an effort to build up their self-esteem. Much of the wickedness of men is now blamed, not on their corrupt nature, but on their lack of self-esteem, and much is made of the argument that if criminals can be taught to esteem themselves more highly they will quit being criminals. 

    The Lord is fully aware of the natural propensities of men, and instead of seeking to build up their self-esteem He inspired Paul to write and exhort His people not to think of themselves more highly than they ought to think, but to think soberly (See Romans 12:3) and not to be wise in their own conceits. He saw that low self-esteem was not the real danger, but rather too high a self-esteem. 

    It is strange to the ears of men who know nothing of human depravity to hear anyone speak of themselves as did Paul when he said, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24), or when he said, "I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle," or when he said he was less than the least of all saints (Eph. 3:8), or the chief of sinners (I Tim. 1:15). All such expressions come from an understanding of what men are by nature. One cannot become too much enamored with his own importance and worth as long as he sees himself in the light of the pure and holy law of God. It drastically changes his whole perspective. "We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3). 

    Paul expressed the proper view of himself in Ist Cor. 15:10 when he said, "By the grace of God I am what I am." Likewise, if there is any good in us God is due the credit. "The flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63). 

    I have seen a lot of self-esteem among those who are causing us so much trouble today.