The Bible on How to Overcome an Inferiority Complex

Self-image is how we see ourselves. For example, I am a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, coach, pastor, and creator of digital content, among other things.  

Self-esteem is how we value our worth, competence, and importance. Often, our conclusion emerges from comparing ourselves with others. Regardless of our abilities, such comparisons are the food on which an inferiority complex feeds and grows. Moses demonstrated such a complex in the wilderness when God assigned him to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 3).

Maxwell Maltz wrote, “And this feeling of inferiority comes about for just one reason: We judge ourselves, and measure ourselves, not against our own ‘norm' or ‘par’ but against some other individual’s ‘norm.’ When we do this, we always, without exception, come out second best.”¹

Our self-image and self-esteem greatly influence our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Whether we see ourselves as capable or incapable makes a vast difference in our ability to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives and do the good works that He assigns us (Ephesians 2:10).

The Bible places a breathtakingly high price tag on human beings. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet” (Psalm 8:4-6 NIV). That sounds pretty valuable. But the price escalates even more.

In our world, the value of something is what someone is willing to pay for it. In 2017, “Salvator Mundi” by Leonardo da Vinci sold for $450 million. We are worth more than that to God because He paid the ultimate price, the life of His only begotten Son, sacrificed on Calvary’s cross, to get us. John 3:16 tells us that He did it because He loves us. He would have done it just for you if you were the only person on earth.

So, we must not judge ourselves against others’ norms or even our own to conclude our worth and importance. Jesus hanging on Calvary’s cross is the ultimate statement of our worth. If every person on earth were to say we are worthless, and God says that we aren’t, their opinion is weightless. The Universe is not a democracy! God rules.

Our self-esteem rests on the foundation of our self-love, which the Bible assumes we have. How can we love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39) if we don’t love ourselves? If God loves us (and He does), why shouldn’t we agree with Him and love ourselves as well when He knows more about us than we do?

Self-love has nothing to do with pride. Proud people attempt to prove their worth apart from God. They steal His glory for themselves, look down on others, and foolishly overestimate their abilities. Wise, humble people find their worth in the cross of Christ and freely share their weaknesses and mistakes with others without any loss of self-esteem.

One way to build our self-esteem is to prepare for and do what God wants us to do. We prepare by reading, studying, and applying His word. I suggest reading a chapter of the Bible daily, working through it repeatedly, starting with the New Testament and then going to the Old Testament. Daily, write in one to three sentences what you hear God saying to you as you read. Keep it up with pit bull tenacity. It will increase your skill in godly living (godly loving).

Develop your interpersonal skills to love others more effectively. Don’t dwell on the negative. Encourage others. Compliment them on their ministry strengths. It can empower and energize them more than you can imagine. Hone your listening skills to discern what people say and how they feel about it. That will amp up your influence in their lives.

Avoid destructive influences. Sin is like a nail in the tire of our self-esteem, as is the inability to forgive ourselves. If we confess our sins, God promises to forgive and completely wash them away (1 John 1:9). Let’s believe His promise and forgive ourselves and others, release our grudges, and offer ourselves as His instruments through whom He can continue to love the world for which Jesus died. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources 

1.     Quote by Maxwell Maltz: “It is not knowledge of actual inferiority in sk...”

God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,714 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 16,260 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.

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