Is Low Self-esteem the Problem?

As a counselor, I know that a good diagnosis is essential if we are going to develop an effective treatment plan. In Become a Better You, Joel Osteen premises his theory of “how to change” by diagnosing man’s problem as poor self esteem. In other words, it is all the negative messages a man tells himself that are the cause of mediocrity and failure. In psychology, these are called “self-defeating, destructive” thoughts. (The ‘psychological’ solution is called cognitive restructuring.)

As a Biblical counselor, I disagree with Joel’s diagnosis. The problem is not a low self-esteem. Thinking better of ‘yourself’ leaves you full of yourself. Exchanging a low self esteem for a better self esteem does not satisfy the “self” problem.

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with the words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The poor in spirit are those who do NOT have a high opinion of themselves. Moses felt completely inadequate for the job God called him to do but God didn’t rebuke Moses for having such a poor self-image. Rather, He told Moses to stop focusing on his inadequacy and focus on God’s adequacy! David said, "Lord, who am I that thou should come to me?” Isaiah said, “I am a man of unclean lips.” These statements indicate “poverty of spirit.” These are people who did not esteem themselves highly. Judging them by today’s standards, we might say they had a problem with low self-esteem. Jesus seems to say the opposite of what Joel Osteen says. He says low self-esteem is a good thing.

How do we become 'poor in spirit?' The answer is that we do NOT look at ourselves. We do NOT begin trying to change ourselves. We do NOT even concern ourselves with who we are. But Who Jesus is! When Paul said "it is no longer "I" who live, but Christ in me", it does not sound like he was concerned with self-esteem!