Be True to Yourself…Is that in Scripture?

There are many things we say and believe that are not in Scripture - and that may be okay - as long as it doesn’t conflict with Scripture.  This, I’ve never said, but I recently heard someone of faith advise someone to be true to herself.  Since I heard a person of faith say it, I decided to investigate.  According to minimalsismmadesimple.com, there are ten practices that lead to being true to oneself.  I am listing them, in brief, below.

1. Be real with yourself. 
2. Be self-aware.
3. Learn to say no.
4. Get a good group of friends and cherish them.
5. Stop trying to please others.
6. Do you!  You know what is best for you, so do it.
7. Trust your intuition.
8. Let go of whatever does not have a positive impact on your life.
9. Accept your mistakes, learn from them, and move on.
10. Be open and express yourself. 
    
    

After some evaluation, I would say that these are good ways to honor oneself, but I don’t think it’s synonymous with honoring the Lord.  My analysis does not reveal that being true to yourself agrees with Scripture.  To me, the ten suggestions are ways in which we can protect ourselves from allowing outside influences to alter who we really are.   I don’t think being true to myself is as God-serving as it is self-serving.  

Scripture tells us that we were each created in the image of God - Genesis 1:27.  This means we each deserve to be treated with dignity and respect no matter our ethnicity, gender, age, no matter what our sins have been - we are all image bearers.  Scripture tells us in Psalm 139:13-14 that from our beginning, we are all God’s Creation, 13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.   Being made in the image of God and acknowledging His workmanship in our creation, warrants our service to Him - not service to ourselves.  

If we were to recreate the list above with Scripture, it might look like the below:

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
2. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5:16)
3. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
   (Galatians 5:16)
4. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) 
5. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13)​

We are true to ourselves, through our service to Him.  Through prayer, service, and devotion to Him, he will guide us through our lives.   Amen. 



​Thank you for reading.
Kim