There are two colossal issues with the self-help industry. First, like mentioned above, it places the self at the center of the universe. In order to help self, one must place self first. Second, it only helps at the surface level and doesn’t get down to the most fundamental problem of humans: sin.

Self-help is a massive industry, and understandably so. Dynamic and charismatic speakers like Tony Robbins, Mel Robbins, and Simon Sinek are highly influential. Their teachings and opinions have invaded the top charts of books, podcasts, and more.

Why is that? They are meeting a felt need amongst the population. Self-help gurus are incredibly popular because people, to a certain extent, understand they need to have better habits, make better decisions, and change how they think. People do want to improve their lives—there’s no question about that.

But at what cost? At what level? Self-help teachings are only truly helpful to a certain degree. That is because they place the individual at the center of the story. You, according to the self-help industry, are the most important in your world. Be selfish, they say.

I sat through a self-help professional development seminar recently. And don’t get me wrong, a lot of the advice was helpful. So yes, indeed, some of the discussion does help . . . self. But during one part of the seminar, the speaker plainly said to be selfish when it comes to the most important person in your world: you. To be sure, this was in the context of explaining how you can’t take care of your family and others around you if you’re not taking care of yourself. I understand that. But the claim is simply erroneous. The intent is good (I think) but the solution is horrifically incorrect, let alone unbiblical. I can take care of myself as an image bearer of God without being number one in my life.

Kyle Strobel, in a video at TGC, said this regarding the self-help industry:

The second we give ourselves to self-help, we are capitulating to a culture that assumes that self is centered, and now I just give myself to things to better myself, to identify myself. We really need to hear Jesus here, that if you try to save your life, you lose it….If you want to discover yourself, you discover yourself in Christ. You don’t somehow create a self. You don’t establish a self. You discover it in him.

The deepest problem with the self-help industry is it places you, the consumer, at the center. That is simply antithetical to biblical teachings. Where the self-help industry says Think about yourself first, Jesus tells us to Think of others before yourself.

This quote from Mel Robbins is a great example of the nonsense you might read:

You don’t give yourself enough credit, you are a lot stronger than you think.

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