You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 (NKJV)
Generally speaking, we tend to look down on people who think well of themselves. We say things like, “He thinks he is God’s gift to women,” or “She is a legend in her own mind.” Of course, when
Jesus told us to love our neighbour as ourselves, He wasn’t saying that we should be arrogant or proud. However, it may shake up your beliefs to know that He wants you to love yourself.
He wasn’t suggesting that you put yourself above God, however. Jesus told us to love God with all our hearts and to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
We have these strange ideas that love is finite—only a certain amount to go around. We know we have to love God and love others, so that must mean that we are supposed to take that love away from somewhere else. If we love ourselves, we must love God or love others less, right?
When you really think about it, the idea that love can run out is silly. True love only compounds.
The more you love God, the more you love others. Accepting the love that others have to give only increases the love you have to give. And increasing the degree to which you love and respect yourself only increases your ability to love God and serve Him more effectively.