Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40
How many times have you heard lessons on love? We’ve probably sat through several sermons, and probably read several books, that identify the necessity of love. We know we’re supposed to love God. We know we’re supposed to love others. In fact, we’re probably familiar with the fact that Jesus told His disciples to love their enemies. But what about loving yourself?
I would dare say that this is the most difficult part of the greatest commands. We are literally commanded to love ourselves. How can we do that? What does that mean? The answers are simple, but the application is often difficult.
Children are born with buckets of self-esteem. They really believe they can do almost anything. In time, and with life experience, reality catches up with them and they begin to become more aware of their faults and failures. At some point, we will lose our passion to love ourselves.
There are some who speculate that if you do declare that you “love yourself” then it means that you are egotistical, self-absorbed, and live with a swollen head! If it was wrong to love yourself, then why would Jesus make such a command?
The reason why Jesus says to “love your neighbor as yourself” is because you have to see your own worth first, only then can you really bless others. This is where we will begin our message tomorrow. If we can wrap our mind around this concept it will help us to forgive ourselves, deny ourselves worldly things, and also save our soul. I want to encourage you to read the text, pray for wisdom, and then let’s study together!
You are loved!
Dr. Ray Reynolds
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