29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29I was prompted to look into this scripture by a friend and I encourage you to look into it also. God commanded us in 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." Later Jesus is asked what was the most important commandment and he answers with the scripture above- Loving God is first, then loving others AS WE LOVE OURSELVES...So I am asking myself- how do you love yourself without being selfish or arrogant? This is known as the golden rule but how can we practice it?
(Golden rule: The command of Jesus Christ to love others as ourselves
The following verse seems to be the opposite of what God wants : Ecclesiastes 2:10 (The Message). 9-10 Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What's more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day's work!
In a parable Jesus addresses filling our "barn with ourselves":
15Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." 16-19Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!' 20"Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?' 21"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God. Luke 12:12-21
This seems to be a paradox that I know I haven't figured out yet! God wants us to "love ourselves" and love others accordingly- yet he doesn't want us to become "filled" with ourselves.
How do you reconcile this paradox? How do you "love yourself"?
My "new year's resolution" or goal for the year has been to work on building healthy boundaries, and I can't help but view "loving myself" as having a patience, kindness, protection, trust, hope, and perseverance...for myself. God used these terms to defined love in 1 Corinthians 13 but I think we need to remember to view ourselves in light of these terms as well. Patient towards myself and my weaknesses and shortcomings. Kindness in how I perceive myself in comparison to others- finding faults in myself that aren't constructive or based in righteousness. Protection in how I spend my time and the choices I make.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 cor 13)
When we really "love God" and "love ourselves" we can properly love others. As Valentines Day approaches think about this notion- how can you be more loving to yourself?
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