by Pastor Jeffrey Smith

When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?” 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.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” Matthew 22:34-40 MSG

Jesus taught us to love God and our neighbor. In one simple expression, Jesus sums up the entire Law and the commands of Scripture. Loving God, others, and ourselves is the key to the life we’re destined to live. Loving ourselves, however, must be done in a healthy and godly way.

Our culture is saturated with the love of “me.” Everyone is consumed with themselves and that self–centeredness can destroy so much. We must have a godly view of ourselves so we can love ourselves appropriately. 

Until you have been transformed by the love of Jesus, it’s impossible to love yourself in a godly way. We must first remember that we had nothing to bring to the table but Jesus still loved us and gave His life for us. When we understand how indebted we are to God, the way we love others and ourselves is changed. It’s impossible to feel entitled and grateful to God at the same time. When we are filled with gratitude for all He’s done for us, it allows us to love ourselves in a godly way. That love begins first in response to God and then in a balanced way toward others and ourselves.

This isn’t just something uplifting that we should think about, it is what Jesus called the most important command. As we begin this year, allow the love of Jesus to radically transform the way you view yourself and others. When you have been changed by His love and grace, your life is no longer about “me” it’s about “we.”