To Love Others, We Also Have To Love Ourselves
Mark 12 gives us two clear commandments about how we are to live our lives:
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (verse 30).
- Love your neighbor as yourself (verse 31).
First, we are to love God with everything we have. This commandment is pretty clear. Now, take a look at the second one.
The next verse tells us to love our neighbors, but it doesn’t stop there. It says we need to love our neighbors the same way we love ourselves.
So, how can we love others the way the Bible tells us to if we aren’t loving ourselves? We can’t.
To some, the concept of self-love may come off as selfish or worldly. But when we consider this command, we remember that showing ourselves kindness, goodness, and mercy will help us to love others in the same way.
What can you do this week to show yourself and others kindness and love?
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:29-31
