Love yourself first?

Self-help programs of all flavors stress often, very often in fact, that we need to love ourselves first. It tends to be an overwhelming mantra that can, and often does, spirals towards ultimate selfishness. They say that if you do not love yourself first then you will not be able to take care of yourself and then you will not be able to love others. They really do emphasize self love in their attempts to help motivate people and while it seems to make sense, God's word says something much different. This mentality of self-love is diametrically opposed to what the Bible says in regards to prioritizing how a Christian ought to think. God's word states that we ought to love God with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength and then others and then finally ourselves, in that exact order. If we truly loved God the we would respect and care for all that He has blessed us with and that includes our bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we truly loved others then we would so all we could to not end up in any condition where we could not fully care and serve those whom we love. It all falls into place if our love priorities are set biblically straight. Loving oneself is a worldly slippery slope and not one a believer should be on. Love God first and foremost and He will supply all the rest that you need including the ability to care for yourself so you can care for others. You get the picture, right? Just in case, here are some proof texts to help: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. [31] And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. [16] For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. [17] Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. [18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. [19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. [20] Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:15-20 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28  

#selfish #selfhelp #selflove #selfless #loveGod #oversofselves