A Proper Love For Yourself
Mark 12:28-31 King James Version (KJV)
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Many people suffer the pain of self-hatred and live each day with a feeling of intense worthlessness. This lack of a proper love for self makes true love for others impossible.
In the two great commandments of Scripture referenced above, we find in condensed capsule form the total duty of humans to God and to their fellow humans. These commandments are invitations that enrich life, not rules that impoverish life.
The measure of our love for self is the measure of love we are to express toward our neighbor. If we have a low view of self, we will have a low and critical view of others.
When a man does not love himself, he cannot love his fellow man, and when he does not understand God’s love, he does not know how to love himself.
Think on this. God loves you. He really loves you. He has proven that love in the gift of his Son Jesus. He continues to manifest that love through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. You can demonstrate your love for yourself by making Jesus the Lord of love and the Lord and leader of your life. Come to Him now and mean it with all of your heart.
About The Author
Rev Jim Constant
Rev. Jim Constant has a degree in Pyschology from Southwestern State University. He has served as pastor for several churches in Oklahoma and is currently pastor at the Colony Baptist Church of Colony, Oklahoma