You need to love yourself first, then you can love others.
I've heard that statement so many times, I have even spoken it myself.
It sounds true doesn't it?
I get the idea, let go of the mistakes you have made, forgive yourself, move on; then you can follow Jesus words and "love your neighbor as yourself".
But the problem with this teaching is that I don't find it anywhere in the Bible.
It is true Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself" but I think that's because he knows most of us already have the self love thing down pretty well.
Agape love is defined as " selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love".
The quick and simple definition is this; love is when the needs and dreams of another are more important to you than your own.
See the contradiction here? Kinda hard to love yourself selflessly. Accept Christ's forgiveness, yes; forget the past sins, absolutely. But if we focus on loving ourselves first, before we get around to loving others, then we will never get around to doing so.
Reading Philippians today. Notice clearly how we are to imitate Christ here.
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV emphasis mine)
Love God, love others, do something about it.
