tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post7120259547843755102..comments2024-03-22T02:49:13.173+00:00Comments on Last Days Watchman: Does Bible Teach Us To Love Ourselves?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04713448621601972014noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-22392742746078421692012-07-21T19:47:02.396+01:002012-07-21T19:47:02.396+01:00Christ is our example for loving and serving other...Christ is our example for loving and serving others. I have not found in the scriptures where Christ said he loved his self. Instead it seems clear that Christ obeyed his Father because of the Father's love. Am I missing something? I am instructed to be satisfied in Christ, this would include satisfaction in the love of our Father God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-72410482612162965722012-02-29T11:28:44.263+00:002012-02-29T11:28:44.263+00:00Anonymous, when one is denied the basics of loving...Anonymous, when one is denied the basics of loving parents it leaves a void in one's life and the constant search for something to fill that void. It also makes it difficult to understand exactly what love is. <br /><br />The only thing that can fill that void is the love of Christ. When we learn how much He loves us it fills up the emptiness we suffer from not receiving love from the very ones who are supposed to give it to us. I think those who have suffered abuse find in Christ the One Who can truly heal the brokenness and give new life. I speak from experience. <br /><br />Even after being saved it is a struggle to arrive at a proper "self-image". I hate that term but use it for lack of a better word. Satan wants us to be self-destructive. Jesus wants to heal our hurts and bind up our wounds so that we can love others and help others and serve Him. <br /><br />I agree with myfanwy that the world is all about self and pleasing self and we should not concentrate on loving ourselves. Jesus proved His love for us on the cross. As we receive that love and come to know Him more and more it is not about loving ourselves, but rather being a conduit of His love to others. Jesus came as a servant and gave Himself for us. He set the example.<br /><br />I think John is correct in calling out self-love. That is the psycho babble of the world - having healthy "self-esteem", learning to love ourselves, etc. We just need to know how much Christ Jesus loves us and that is our foundation. Then we learn to love Him and that relationship is the basis for joy in our lives. <br /><br />I might add that those who have suffered abuse tend to seek perfection and castigate ourselves for our failures and weaknesses. That is a trap and one which we must avoid, but the way to do that is to bask in the love of our Lord and know that He forgives and restores and will never leave us or forsake us. He also gives us grace to forgive our abusers and there is healing power in that. <br /><br />The Bible says that the heart is deceitful and there is nothing to love in it. When we surrender to Christ we are new creations and His love makes us acceptable to God, not anything we do of ourselves. <br /><br />I don't know if this makes any sense and if I have expressed it very well, but I just think that in the Christian life there is no room for self-love and the only love that matters is Christ's love for us.<br /><br />As believers we have the Holy Spirit which confirms Christ's love for us as the Comforter, and enables us to love others and display the fruits of His indwelling our hearts.BLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-86131110344340690622012-02-29T04:29:00.833+00:002012-02-29T04:29:00.833+00:00Just landed on this blog. Don't know anything ...Just landed on this blog. Don't know anything about blogs, just wanted to comment to Pastor David Hall that I completely agree with the spirit of his comment about loving ourselves as the Lord loves us. I am searching, as a person who was abused as a child and shown by both paents that I was not loved, for a way out of the very selfish and addictive behaviors I have lived many years with. I understand selfishness (self love - participating in addiction) but when I explore Jesus' love for me, why is it that I then come out of my depression, start taking care of myself in disciplined ways (not selfish ways) and feel happy? Why do I feel like part of a family (not alone) when I realize that God loves me, and that I should love myself the way that He does? His love truly motivates me to take better care of (love) myself and gives me the desire to glorify Him in all that I do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-58617337772810319572012-01-06T20:02:13.962+00:002012-01-06T20:02:13.962+00:00Hi John,
Personally, I have found it much easier ...Hi John,<br /><br />Personally, I have found it much easier to love others, when I don't love myself too much! Agape love is God's kind of love, it is a love for others that is not some sappy human feeling. Human love ebbs and flows, God's love is always present and always strong.<br /><br />I think the only way to 'love ourselves' is by being obedient to God, and loving Him more than anyone or anything. <br /><br />By fellowshipping with God, and studying His word, we are actually looking after ourselves. And when we grow close to the Lord, we want to love and help others.<br /><br />There is far too much of this self-love talk going on. It does distract you from revering, and being in awe of God and His holiness. We know God loves us with an unfailing love and He also disciplines us because He love us.<br /><br />Just my thoughts anyway.TruthfulConversationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04527299641505612850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-67369700286604659092011-09-01T07:32:59.237+01:002011-09-01T07:32:59.237+01:00Hi David
I have just read through both our commen...Hi David<br /><br />I have just read through both our comments again. I think I am starting to understand (a bit more) what you were saying. I think you may "have something" there.<br /><br />I mean, the reason we give our lives to Jesus (in the first place) is because of loving ourselves - we want to be saved from our sins. That clearly is not wrong!<br /><br />Everything we do in obedience to God is because of the joy we get in pleasing Him.<br /><br />Hmmm. I may be wrong in what I wrote in my last 2 comments.John Chingfordhttp://www.watchmanforjesus.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-3898441738045343912011-08-31T15:53:09.294+01:002011-08-31T15:53:09.294+01:00Of course, I don't mean the same thing as in w...Of course, I don't mean the same thing as in what monks do eg asceticism etc.<br /><br />In fact the above will take a lifetime to get to, in any case. Even then it will not be perfect. It is the Lord who works in us to do it.<br /><br />Of ourselves (our own abilities and strength) we CANNOT live up to that. That should not mean that we reject it because it is impossible. "All things are possible with God".<br /><br />"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" Phil 2:13<br /><br />As long as we are aware of and embrace "correct" teaching about NOT focussing on self, the rest will follow.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04713448621601972014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-38162014824453149982011-08-31T15:33:16.144+01:002011-08-31T15:33:16.144+01:00Hi Pastor David
I can "sort of" see wha...Hi Pastor David<br /><br />I can "sort of" see what you are saying. However, there is no clear cut scripture verse or passage that tells us to love ourselves.<br /><br />As I explained (in an earlier comment) the only passage (that I am aware of) that could be misinterpreted as "love yourself" is "loving your neighbour as yourself" but as was shown it wasn't talking about loving yourself but was talking about focussing your thoughts on your neighbour.<br /><br />In fact we are told to "fix your thoughts on Jesus" and to "set your affections on those things which are above, NOT on those things below" ie those things below include self.<br /><br />If we are to fix our minds on Jesus and to "seek first His kingdom" and to "lay down our lives" for others, how can we have time to love ourselves.<br /><br />I state these things to avoid any confusion of others thinking it is okay to focus on "bless me, bless me" attitudes.<br /><br />I know that you meant differently, ie if we focus on serving God and others (because of our love for God) we will be blessed! "more blessed to give than to receive" If we focus in the right direction and abide in the vine, we will "grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord" meaning we will (inadvertently) be loving ourselves because of what we will receive.<br /><br />My problem with that is that MAYBE the only reason we do certain things for God (or others)is because we are seeking the blessing rather than true self sacrifice.<br /><br />This means we are still putting the emphasis on self gratification. Our goal should be to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord" regardless whether there are rewards or not.<br /><br />"have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, that although He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God something to be grasped but EMPTIED Himself .......etc"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04713448621601972014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-69517615884134662172011-08-29T22:44:42.574+01:002011-08-29T22:44:42.574+01:00Hi Again, Being SELFISH is NOT loving ourselves. W...Hi Again, Being SELFISH is NOT loving ourselves. We MUST Love ourselves as Jesus loved us. You did not obviously understand what I wrote. Agape is an all encompassing love and one that does not spoil us or others.<br /><br />Real love will show us what we really need to be doing...we need to die to our SELFISH ways and be made ALIVE in him, that is LOVING OURSELVES as we give all of our burdens over to the Lord and allow him to be the one who supports and cares for us...that is the love I am talking about and that is the love we need to show to others.<br /><br />Many blessingsDavid Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16280251472554067967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-20938783441063048582011-08-24T10:48:21.959+01:002011-08-24T10:48:21.959+01:00Thanks Anonymous, Nic, and MHF
Appreciated. It is ...Thanks Anonymous, Nic, and MHF<br />Appreciated. It is always good to get feedback. Thanks everyone for the encouragement.<br />God blessAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04713448621601972014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-29489806238210642862011-08-24T00:54:16.919+01:002011-08-24T00:54:16.919+01:00Thank you for this article. It is so 'right on...Thank you for this article. It is so 'right on'. We definitely do love ourselves. That is the problem.Mary Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02259422808828182548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-69348595371307323752011-08-07T23:25:43.893+01:002011-08-07T23:25:43.893+01:00Hi John
Thanks for that posting. I have been doi...Hi John<br /><br />Thanks for that posting. I have been doing a bit of study in this area but had not thought about the Philippians reference in regards to this subject.<br /><br />Excellent.Nichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960603763631331461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-20325257916528767922011-03-22T06:32:03.580+00:002011-03-22T06:32:03.580+00:00I would have thought that loving ourselves (too mu...I would have thought that loving ourselves (too much, and thereby God and everyone else too little in comparison) was at the root of all our problems? <br /><br />For me, anyway.<br /><br />God bless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-80150413593292471532011-03-07T17:35:40.470+00:002011-03-07T17:35:40.470+00:00Hi David
Thanks for your response. I am just wond...Hi David<br /><br />Thanks for your response. I am just wondering where Jesus told us to love ourselves? If you are referring to "love your neighbour as yourself" it wasn't a command to love ourselves but to love our neighbour.<br /><br />It was assumed that everybody knew how to put themselves first and how to bless themselves by supplying for their own needs. Jesus is telling us to love others in the same way that we care for ourselves.<br /><br />The attention of his message wasn't about learning how to love ourselves but learning how to love others. Jesus used the example of the good Samaritan to show how we should DENY OURSELVES and FOCUS on the needs of our neighbours.<br /><br />Actually (in a round about way) I think we are in agreement. We can also learn or be stirred to love others by receiving love from others (as it says in Hebrews "let us consider how to stir one another unto love and good works").<br /><br />The point is that we are instructed NOT to focus on serving ourselves but others.<br /><br />Please check out the audio shortcut link which is excellent.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04713448621601972014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-49742850031723345512011-03-07T13:26:21.870+00:002011-03-07T13:26:21.870+00:00I can understand your reasoning John, but Jesus sa...I can understand your reasoning John, but Jesus said that we are to love ourselves (Agape) which is the love we should have towards ALL people. Many people today do not know how to love, because they have never been shown love.<br /><br />When Jesus told the hearers of his day to love their neighbour they had a system where love was a part of the family environment. In Cyprus families will protect each other and that is how we are to be towards our neighbour as Christians. <br /><br />It is a very touchy subject in this day and age. Jesus means that we are to include our neighbour and love them as we would love ourselves, which is probably the hardest thing to do as a Christian.<br /><br />Focusing on loving ourselves in the New Age, Joel Osteen way is not what Jesus was talking about.<br /><br />Blessings<br /><br />Pastor David Hall<br /><br />livingwatersministies.blogspot.comDavid Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16280251472554067967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1842260823875796403.post-10841037511290622322011-03-01T20:39:34.271+00:002011-03-01T20:39:34.271+00:00For those who get my automatic "comments"...For those who get my automatic "comments" updates but not the "new articles" updates, I just want to notify you of an important new article.<br /><br />I have just made an addition to the article by including an excellent audio shortcut link (at the bottom)which nicely complements and supplements my article by including other encouraging teaching on the subject.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04713448621601972014noreply@blogger.com