There is the idea that loving one's self, although not explicitly commanded in Scripture, is implied and expected. "Jesus said to love others as I love myself, therefore love for myself is implied." I have met individuals who hate themselves--often a result of shame, sometimes guilt--but perhaps we have misinterpreted "love." After reading about Jesus' on the night He was arrested, I would propose that love (or acceptance) of myself and love for others is a factor of trust and love for God. It has little to nothing to do with the object of my affection (myself or others); it has everything to do with my belief in who God is.
That said, if I believe God created me for a holy purpose--in wisdom, for a Divine calling--I see my body, ability, vocation, and location as a gift to be stewarded. This is not my idea. But I cannot see myself in that light if I have not recognized my sin and confessed my need for forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Once Jesus has cleansed me and I am indwelt by His Spirit, I have the ability to see the Truth of Scripture applied to my entire being--and I am His. I am not my own; I have been bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). That negates self love. It erases self loathing. It is, in essence, an absence of self. For that reason, Scripture does not imply love of self but the opposite, death to self.
My natural, unregenerate mind loves my self. Even in self-loathing, the focus is "self." Stuart Scott does a fabulous job of walking step-by-step through the fascination we have with ourselves in his book, From Pride to Humility. And, as Timothy Keller writes, "Humility is not thinking less of one's self. It is thinking of one's self less. (The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy)
So as I read this morning, "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself." (John 13:3-4).
Because He knew He had power over all things--He knew who He was. He would not be destroyed or condemned. His was a divine, holy, blessed mission. He couldn't lose. Jesus also knew He had come from God. He belonged to His Father. And He knew He would return to His Father. He believed--He knew--the outcome. For those reasons, and because of love for His disciples, (John 13:1), He served.
You and I, when we no longer belong to ourselves or have a deep concern for our appearance, reputation, other's praise or rejection can let go of so many things that deter us, and we can love others the way God loves us. Do you know that the Father has given you every spiritual blessing? That you are redeemed and forgiven? That you have a mission that cannot, will not fail? And that you are going back to God? That is what God says about who He is and who you are.
It's not about looking out for number one. It's about Number One looking out for you. And, knowing He does, you can love others lavishly, with no strings attached or expectation of return. In doing so, dying to yourself (not loving yourself), you will experience the presence and undergirding of Almighty God: the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His suffering, and conformity to His death that comes through His righteousness and empowering Spirit (Philippians 3:9-10).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)
That said, if I believe God created me for a holy purpose--in wisdom, for a Divine calling--I see my body, ability, vocation, and location as a gift to be stewarded. This is not my idea. But I cannot see myself in that light if I have not recognized my sin and confessed my need for forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Once Jesus has cleansed me and I am indwelt by His Spirit, I have the ability to see the Truth of Scripture applied to my entire being--and I am His. I am not my own; I have been bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). That negates self love. It erases self loathing. It is, in essence, an absence of self. For that reason, Scripture does not imply love of self but the opposite, death to self.
My natural, unregenerate mind loves my self. Even in self-loathing, the focus is "self." Stuart Scott does a fabulous job of walking step-by-step through the fascination we have with ourselves in his book, From Pride to Humility. And, as Timothy Keller writes, "Humility is not thinking less of one's self. It is thinking of one's self less. (The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy)
So as I read this morning, "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself." (John 13:3-4).
Because He knew He had power over all things--He knew who He was. He would not be destroyed or condemned. His was a divine, holy, blessed mission. He couldn't lose. Jesus also knew He had come from God. He belonged to His Father. And He knew He would return to His Father. He believed--He knew--the outcome. For those reasons, and because of love for His disciples, (John 13:1), He served.
You and I, when we no longer belong to ourselves or have a deep concern for our appearance, reputation, other's praise or rejection can let go of so many things that deter us, and we can love others the way God loves us. Do you know that the Father has given you every spiritual blessing? That you are redeemed and forgiven? That you have a mission that cannot, will not fail? And that you are going back to God? That is what God says about who He is and who you are.
It's not about looking out for number one. It's about Number One looking out for you. And, knowing He does, you can love others lavishly, with no strings attached or expectation of return. In doing so, dying to yourself (not loving yourself), you will experience the presence and undergirding of Almighty God: the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His suffering, and conformity to His death that comes through His righteousness and empowering Spirit (Philippians 3:9-10).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)
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