I Just Really Like This Skunk Picture
Think He Might Struggle with Loving Himself? 🙂
A Quick Reminder of How I Define Love, even Self-Love:To truly love is “to care so much for the object of love that you do what is best for that person regardless of the personal cost to you”.
You might truly love yourself as Jesus commanded in Matthew 22:39 if…
- …You desire to be changed into Jesus’ likeness more than becoming like any other person.
- …you want to know another person more than you want to be known.
- …you give sacrificially to meet the needs of others.
- …choose to obey God’s Word above cultural dictates or permission.
- …enjoy seeing others succeed.
- …consider your own successes as gifts from God.
- …submit to authorities in your life as a way to express your love for them and for God.
- …give God time to speak to you and listen to His Spirit and His Word.
- …do not have anyone or any thing controlling your life other than love for God and others.
- …if you learn to speak truth in love.
- …if you set aside time to take time off from the routine to allow yourself to rest.
- …if you are a good listener.
- …if you apply due diligence to the work or study you engage.
- …if you care more for the promotion of others than of promoting yourself.
- …if you listen to understand more than you speak to be understood.
See a theme?
Loving myself is clearly evident when I want the success of others and the praise of God more than my own glory or advancement. There is no better thing you can do for yourself, your mental and emotional health, or your spiritual health than to put Jesus and others ahead of yourself and become a person who serves rather than having to be served. Seems counter-intuitive in some ways, but in putting Jesus and others first I actually secure for myself the favor of my Father God Himself and the promise that He will exalt me in due time.
I Peter 5:6 is clear:
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
After all, would you rather have God exalt you in His ways and in His time or just exalt yourself by trying to get ahead of everyone else and become the arrogant person most people try to avoid?
We have choices to make, don’t we?
Will you choose to love yourself well by choosing what God wants for you above the influence of others or even above your own sin nature that would exalt you first? Tough decisions lie ahead, but we won’t regret living out the first and second commandments!
__________________________________________________________________________
Here are the first and second commandments and their old testament sources:
Matthew 22:37-39 :
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]
Quoted passages from the Old Testament:
Deuteronomy 6:4-5:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[b] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Leviticus 19:18:
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.