Sept 15, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

What Went Wrong

(The 3W’s Series #2)

Finding a self-esteem that creates God’s will

I know for a fact that the Church has not been creating nor strengthening the Godly and Christ-like self-esteems that is needed in today’s believers. When we fail to allow the Holy Spirit to do His job by creating healthy self-esteems in Christians all can be lost when Satan tempts and attacks us. I know this to be true and have discovered truths in God’s Word as to the importance of a Godly self-esteem.

I believe that Ruth is the best Biblical example of a person having a truly healthy self-esteem. In fact, the Book of Ruth is possibly the single most important book of the Bible when it comes to understanding the wisdom of God. Want to have a healthy self-esteem, Ruth should be your example.

The story is easy to read and a book that should be read by all of us every year. But, it is the qualities of Ruth that makes the story terrific and an example of how all of us should see ourselves and strive to be, regarding our self-image. Here are some of Ruth’s self-esteem qualities:

ü Ruth is humble but knows who she is and/or wants to be; a truly strong self-esteem knows what commitments to make and how to keep them. She makes this statement to her mother-in-law in the first chapter of the Book of Ruth. “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17)

ü Ruth understands her shortcomings but has the strength to take risks. Ruth’s husband died shortly after marriage. She finds herself a widow, no children, and without much hope for a future in finding another husband. Since she is a Moabite (not of Jewish descent), it will not be easy traveling to Israel with her mother-in-law (Naomi), but Ruth has made a decision to make the long journey with Naomi to a land Ruth does not know, people she does not understand, nor a faith she has little knowledge of. She is willing to take the risk of a new life even though it might be a lonely life for her if Naomi dies early like all the other men in Naomi’s family. Ruth decides to make the long journey back to Israel not knowing what is in store for her. (1:19)

ü A self-esteem that comes from God gives us the ability (without fear) to listen to others’ advice and to consider what is the ‘best route’ to take. Ruth listened to Naomi often in crucial life situations. They were women who had no home nor were they a pair that had financial security or the means to find work. They were ‘beggars’ but had a confidence beyond what they saw, and Naomi understood the culture God had placed herself in and gave Ruth wisdom how to negotiate within God’s will and guidelines. (1:19-22)

ü Ruth stayed humble to the point of meekness and unworthiness. Ruth did not try to make herself ‘a somebody’ nor a person of importance. Like Jesus, she made herself of ‘no reputation’ or statue. She did not ‘brand’ herself nor thought of herself more highly than she ought too (as Paul did). A person with a balanced and wholesome self-esteem is a person that is comfortable with him/herself and does not need the acceptance of others to have an adequate image of who they are or what they can do. (Ruth chapter 2)

ü A healthy self-esteem allows others to esteem their importance and accepts honor from others in humility and gratitude. Ruth never acknowledges her actions or behavior as better than others but waited and had the patience for others to make their own decisions regarding her worthiness and importance. Thereby being able to bless others through being faithful to her ability to make commitments in humility and with patience. (chapter 4)

Do you have such a self-esteem? The Holy Spirit can give you this!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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