Self-Love: Let’s Find Out What That Is…

We’ve heard and read the words of God telling us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus reiterated the same command in the Gospels (Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, and Luke 10:27). The Apostle Paul also echoed the command to the early church (Romans 13:9 and Galatians 5:14).

This command must be important since it is repeated throughout the Bible. I’ve heard the command expounded upon in reference to loving others. I haven’t heard much about the “loving ourselves” part of the commandment. I’ve pondered this commandment many times during my marriage and thought about it with more intensity after the end of my marriage. I’ve often asked myself if I loved him enough, loved him more, etc., would the outcome been different? (I’m learning to stop asking that of myself. That’s a topic for another article.) As I read Jesus’ words to the people, I also asked myself how I could love him if I was not quite sure of how to love myself. I then remembered 1 Corinthians 13 “The Love Chapter”. I’ve heard it taught/discussed in relation to loving others. As I read, I felt God telling me this is how you ought to love yourself, as well.

I’d like to explore 1 Corinthians 13 and ways we can apply these verses in loving ourselves. My question to you is how do you love yourself? Are we kind to ourselves? Do we practice patience and extend grace to ourselves? Let’s be honest, sometimes we love others better than we love ourselves.