How should a Christian view self-esteem?

Many define self-esteem as "feelings of worth based on their skills,
accomplishments, status, financial resources, or appearance." This
kind of self-esteem can lead a person to feel independent and prideful
and to indulge in self-worship, which dulls our desire for God. James
4:6 tells us that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble." If we only trust in our earthly resources, we will inevitably
be left with a sense of worth based on pride. Jesus told us, "You
also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say,
'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'" (Luke 17:10).

This does not mean that Christians should have low self-esteem. It
only means that our sense of being a good person should not depend on
what we do, but rather on who we are in Christ. We need to humble
ourselves before Him, and He will honor us. Psalm 16:2 reminds us, "I
said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good
thing.'" Christians attain self-worth and esteem by having a right
relationship with God. We can know we are valuable because of the high
price God paid for us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

In one sense, low self-esteem is the opposite of pride. In another
sense, low-self-esteem is a form of pride. Some people have low
self-esteem because they want people to feel sorry for them, to pay
attention to them, to comfort them. Low self-esteem can be a
declaration of "look at me" just as much as pride. It simply takes a
different route to get to the same destination, that is,
self-absorption, self-obsession, and selfishness. Instead, we are to
be selfless, to die to self, and to deflect any attention given to us
to the great God who created and sustains us.

The Bible tells us that God gave us worth when He purchased us to be
His own people (Ephesians 1:14). Because of this, only He is worthy of
honor and praise. When we have healthy self-esteem, we will value
ourselves enough to not become involved in sin that enslaves us.
Instead, we should conduct ourselves with humility, thinking of others
as better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Romans 12:3 warns, "Do not
think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith
God has given you."