J-O-Y, J-O-Y, this must surely be...
How often are we getting this backwards today, in the name of "happiness?"
“Happiness” today is defined as “loving yourself first,” often by wellness gurus.
They reason that you "first have to love yourself before you can love others."
This is suspiciously similar to lines about "forgiving yourself" regardless of whether or not you have repented and have begged the forgiveness of God.
Beware self-centered theology.
But what has God said about self-love?
In Ephesians 5:29, the observation is made about husbands naturally caring about themselves, but self-love is not the point. Rather, admonition is given for the husband to likewise love his wife, as Christ loves the church. Self-love is observed, but selflessness is commanded.
In Philippians 2, we are encouraged to have a Christ-like mindset.
This applies to our motives, our agendas, our love and devotion.
Luke 10:27 places our love for God first, and for our neighbor second.
And 1 John 4:19-21 makes it absolutely clear that loving our brother is necessary.
And even in the toughest spots, we can still have a hope-filled joy after the pattern of Christ in Hebrews 12:2,
”who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…"
That joy is eternal, anticipating to hear the Father say,
"Well done, good and faithful servant."
Scriptures
Ephesians 5:25, 28-30 KJV “25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ... 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
Philippians 2:1-2, 5 KJV “1 If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. ... 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
Luke 10:27 KJV “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
1 John 4:19-21 KJV “We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
Matthew 25:23 KJV “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
~ Eric Druist
This post was originally published to Social Media on October 4, 2024.
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