Do you love yourself? Many people may hesitate to say “yes” because we often think of self-love as being prideful, arrogant and even narcissistic. However, the Bible indicates that it is proper and necessary to love yourself to a reasonable degree – just not in this worldly kind of way. The type of love that God wants you to have for yourself is based upon humility and thankfulness. You should care for yourself, respect yourself, and appreciate the person that God has made in you.
I remember a period in my life where I was going to a counselor and I told her that I basically had this persistent, underlying feeling that I sucked and that nothing I did was good enough. This was after a long season of being worn down. Not good, right? And I really didn’t realize that I was feeling that way until our session. Luckily, she helped me to work through it. I’m sure that I’m not alone in struggling with loving – or even liking – myself at times.
Whom should we love first?
Here’s what the Bible tell us:
- Jesus says the most important commandment is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
- Further, he says the second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31
Although the Bible doesn’t tell us specifically to love ourselves – it is certainly implied here. Think about it, how can you love others if you don’t even love yourself?
Many of us are in bondage as it relates to how we feel about ourselves. Maybe you consider yourself ugly, dumb, clumsy, lazy, or all of the above. Maybe you are ashamed and haven’t forgiven yourself for things you have done in the past. Maybe you have low self-esteem and see yourself as a failure or as less than others around you. Maybe you regularly beat up on yourself mentally or emotionally.
I remember my daughter asking me during her tween years. “Mom, why did God – and you and dad – make my ugly?” And then she added that her friend said she looked like me, and further reiterated that she didn’t want to look like me. So then I wasn’t loving myself too much:) We may sometimes ask questions like this and wonder why we aren’t different, or what we may perceive as better. But who are we to question how we are made? Clearly, God has a reason and certainly knows what He is doing. The Bible says that “He even numbers all of the very hairs on our head.” (Matthew 10:30)
Here are some things to think about as it relates to loving ourselves:
- We were made in His image.
“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
- He knows each of us by name.
“…he calls his own sheep by name and calls them out.” John 10:3
- Before we were born, He knew us and set us apart for a purpose.
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
- And He lives inside each of us.
“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4
God is a part of us, and He made each of us individually as part of His beautiful creation. He created us on purpose for a particular purpose. Who are we to question his creation?
One of the things that has helped me when I’m feeling a little down on myself is reading the Serenity Prayer.
There may be some things that you don’t like about yourself that you are able to change. If so, ask God for the strength and help to make those changes. We are certainly working on some things in me currently! There are also likely things you can’t change about yourself. Ask God to help you accept those things.
REFLECT
Do you feel like you love yourself – in the Christian kind of way?
If not, what can you do to increase your feelings of love and respect for yourself?
