Chapter 12—Self-respect
Loving Others, Loving Oneself
Many women struggle with feelings of self-worth and value in
God’s sight. As in other portions of this book, the passages used
may not have been written specifically for or to women, but they are
applicable to them in their search for an understanding of how God
views them as His creation and how they should view themselves and
others
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Developing Self-respect—If we wish to do good to souls, our
success with these souls will be in proportion to their belief in our
belief in, and appreciation of, them. Respect shown to the struggling
human soul is the sure means through Christ Jesus of the restoration
of the self-respect the man has lost. Our advancing ideas of what
he may become are a help we cannot ourselves fully appreciate.—
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 280, 281 (1893)
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We Should Respect Ourselves—The Lord has given every one
of us a sense of self-respect, and this must not be opposed too abruptly.
God wants us to respect ourselves. In our families and in the church,
we too often seek to destroy self-respect. Do not do it. Do not do it in
our schools. Do not do it in our offices. The Lord has said that every
one of these institutions is to be educational in character. The students
and workers will follow the example set by those who have charge
over them. The teacher is to be a pattern to the learner. If he wants the
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youth to respect him, he must respect them.—
The General Conference
Bulletin, April 25, 1901
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Not Pleasing to God to Demerit Oneself—It is the privilege of
everyone to so live that God will approve and bless him. You may be
hourly in communion with Heaven; it is not the will of your heavenly
Father that you should ever be under condemnation and darkness. It
is not pleasing to God that you should demerit yourself. You should
cultivate self-respect by living so that you will be approved by your
own conscience, and before men and angels. It is not an evidence
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