Worth -- Self-esteem -- Self-image

Anorexia and Bulimia are rampant among the young girls of today.
Arrogance and Pride are just as rampant among the young men of today.

How are they connected? These are two polar opposites of the same thing: self-worth. Let me attack this from BOTH ends...

Before we become saved we were/are worthless. There is nothing we could ever do to earn our salvation. There is nothing we could do to please God. We were little specks of nothingness that were worthy of eternal damnation without hope of relief. HOWEVER because of Jesus Christ's perfect sacrifice, we were given worth. Without Jesus, we ARE worthless. To Arrogance and Pride, how dare you EVER think that you could "impress" God. How dare you ever think that as a puny human you could have anything of value to offer anyone or anything? Suck up your pride! Pride only shows your stupidity, the stupidity that you could (by your own strength) ever amount to anything.

Now that I've beat up on the Arrogant :D Let's lift your spirits...

Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice. In our worthlessness, God loved us. He loved us so much that he sent His one and only Son to die for us. Because of God's love, we are filled with worth. We are worth the life of Jesus! In our nothingness, God thought that we were worth a life, the perfect life! In that knowledge raise your head and sing! The King of the Universe believes that you... YOU are special beyond all else. To those who believe they are ugly and disgusting, without Jesus, yes, you have assessed yourself correctly, BUT with Jesus, how dare YOU think yourself disgusting! How dare you think that Jesus' life was not enough to make you beautiful! How dare you think the Jesus' love is not enough to make you wonderfully special.

Now, how do we merge these two aspects into a Righteous lifestyle?

1. You must understand that on your own, you are a sick nothing. Do not boast or brag, nor be filled with pride and arrogance. You only show off your weakness of spirit.
2. You must also understand that when the blood of Jesus Christ covers your sins, you are a precious, beautiful, new creation.
3. With these in mind, never boast of yourself, but take pride in the God who saved you. For who has more worth than God Himself?
4. Knowing all this, do not count yourself greater because you are saved. If God didn't save you, you'd be just as bad as everyone else. Yet, do not count yourself dust among everyone else, for God DID save you, and it's a slap in the face if you don't take heart in it.

I guess the best way to think of it is: on the outside, be very humble. Never brag of your abilities, never be proud, and never boast of your own strength. On the inside, in your heart, know the new worth you have in God's eye's through Jesus. Take joy in the new strength -- not your own -- and new beauty that is yours to own.

See how these two thoughts merge into a balance? When you begin to think like this you begin to understand that every gift is a blessing, and there is no job that is "beneath" you.