Originally posted on 2/5/2020 at https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/st-valentines-day/reasons-to-love-yourself-so-you-can-love-others.html
Directly after the greatest commandment to love God with all our hearts, is Jesus’ charge to love others. The way in which Jesus tells us to actually love others, however, is often overlooked.
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ – Matthew 22:37-39 MSG
Jesus tells us to love others “as well as you love yourself,” but delineating between a healthy version of self-love and selfishness can be confusing. Obviously, selfishness is not the goal. But looking down on yourself and devaluing yourself is not a win, either.
So how can you Biblically love yourself, so that you may love others better?
A great place to explore this question is in the often-referenced “love chapter” in the Bible: 1 Corinthians 13. This is not only a great chapter to learn how to love others, but it also gives great insight on learning to love yourself so that you might love others well.
Let’s look at what 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says about love for some insight on how we can love ourselves.
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