“Teacher, which is the most important commandment … ?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law (is) … based on these two commandments Matthew 22:36-40.
By implication, ‘love yourself’ – but Jesus placed no emphasis on this self-love though mentioned it as a fact. The ‘entire law’ is not based on this love, but we tend to base our entire life on this love. And make ‘love yourself’ the ‘Third Most Important Commandment’ – a law in our hearts.
Self-respect, self-care, self-love is good and necessary. We cannot function without these in their rightful places in our lives.
But our human nature tends to, all the time, move the position of this love up on the hierarchical scale. Above the love for our neighbor, and not equal to, as commanded by Christ. And we do not hesitate to move it above our love for God. And the ‘Third Most Important Law’ – Love Yourself’ dwell in our hearts as our first love – the first and most important law. The original and continuous profound fallen state of man. Choosing our needs above God. (Adam – used in the Bible as a pronoun; individually as “a human” and in a collective sense as “mankind”)
Listen carefully and consider church sermons’ messages. How often is the Word subtly turned solely to our needs; how to cope with our circumstances as the main concern. Our job, our income, our relationships stand at the top of needs list. Without having God, our love for Him, His purpose as the main concern, but rather my needs, my love for me, as the primary goal.
‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.’ Matthew 6:33
‘You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.’ Psalm 16:11
Do we desire heaven and eternal life because of the ‘Third Law – Self-love’, self-preservation or because of our love for God, to be forever with our eternal Lover? To be filled with the joy of His presence, forever?
‘When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.’ John 14:3. That is what He promises, to be with Him. Is that the desire of our hearts?
‘But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ’ Philippines 3:8.
‘And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect’ 1 John 4:17
‘May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God’ 2 Thessalonians 3:5, so we will put Him above all, above our hearts. In our daily lives, in our quiet times with Him, in the sermons we attend.
And keep the ‘Third Most Important Law’ – Love Yourself’ as the least important law.
‘For even the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ Mark 10:45. Serve God, serve man.
Know Him and make Him known. ‘May you have more and more of His loving-favor and peace as you come to know God and our Lord Jesus Christ better.’ 2 Peter 1:2
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