Self-image, when rooted in self-righteousness, mirrors the deception in the fable of The Emperor's New Clothes, where the monarch imagines himself clothed in grandeur while exposing his true nakedness. Similarly, self-righteousness, a core aspect of Laodiceanism, is a deceptive sin of attitude, not action, fostering complacency by making one regard oneself as more virtuous than others despite a deficient spiritual condition. This false perception prevents individuals from seeing their sin for what it is, much like Job, who remains unmoved by arguments due to his own evaluation of himself, or the Laodiceans, blind to their true state as Isaiah warns that their righteousnesses are like filthy rags due to polluted motives. Manifestations of self-righteousness include attitudes of superiority, as seen in the Pharisee who prays with a desire to be noticed, revealing a problem not in actions but in his self-righteous mindset. This often surfaces in judging or complaining about others when they fail to meet personal standards. Indeed, everyone harbors some degree of self-righteousness, evident when one constantly uses oneself as an example of correctness, displaying self-centeredness through frequent self-references or being perceived as holier-than-thou due to a superior attitude. Outwardly, self-righteousness can masquerade as righteousness, as with Absalom, who appears virtuous but lacks true wisdom, or the Pharisees, who deceive others into equating their self-righteousness with genuine righteousness despite their prideful adherence to legalism without understanding its spirit. In contrast, true righteousness, being God-centered, fosters humble relationships and unity, while self-righteousness, due to its self-centered nature, destroys relational harmony by rejecting the divine standard of righteousness.

We We all carry an image of ourselves in our heart, a persona we wish to project to others. This desire to reflect a pleasing image of God is not inherently wrong, but often, the image we project is rooted in pride, which God resists. Many of us fail to understand the true impression we make on others, as there can be a wide divergence between how we see ourselves and how others perceive us. For instance, one might think he appears serious and contemplative, while others see him as stern and condemning. Pride, often hidden under a facade, involves haughtiness and contempt for others, buried deep in the heart. A proud person so admires himself that he remains unaware of his lack of essential qualities, cherishing independence and believing he is above correction or need for salvation. This self-admiration blinds him to his own shortcomings. Job, for example, worked hard to project a certain image, but despite his righteousness, it was far from the perfection he believed he displayed. His friends' testimony revealed a major failure in his heart, which God saw and sought to cleanse. Job held an exaggerated opinion of himself, thinking he was somehow equal to God, until God's confrontation shattered his self-image, revealing the vast difference between them. Humbled, Job recognized that God owes him nothing, regardless of his works, and that true humility is an internal matter of the heart, not merely an outward appearance. Humility is not a sense of inferiority but an acknowledgment of spiritual bankruptcy and utter dependence on God. Poverty of spirit, as seen in Job's transformation, occurs when one empties himself of self-will and preconceived notions, seeking God wholeheartedly. It involves confessing unworthiness and realizing total reliance on God for every aspect of life. Job, once a wealthy man who depended on no one, came to understand that without God, he could do nothing of eternal value. This poverty of spirit is foundational to a growing relationship with God, preventing the ego from becoming a hindrance. True success in all areas of life comes from humbly submitting to God, making the choice to examine oneself, repent, and humble oneself before Him. There is everything to gain by embracing humility and nothing of lasting value to lose.

The empirical self includes all groupings of people or objects with which we closely identify, becoming parts of our self-image. This natural human tendency can lead to problems when one becomes selfish, competitive, self-centered, or egotistical with their empirical self. For example, sports fans may identify so strongly with their team that they view fans of rival teams as foes, leading to conflicts. Similarly, the Corinthians suffered from empirical selfishness by competitively making various church leaders extensions of themselves, causing division. Even identifying with the church in Philadelphia over others can elevate the self and put others down. Christ's letters to the churches encourage us to hear what the Spirit says to all the churches, not just those that make us feel good about ourselves. Identifying with a corporate organization is not wrong, but problems arise at the edges when we view anything different with suspicion, condescension, or antagonism. Rightly identifying with God first and His human servants after that can prevent empirical selfishness and the suffering it causes.