Alright, this is the Christmas week edition of musings, and because I’m writing two sermons this week, this will be a shorter version.
Love yourself?
One of the challenges we face in our world right now is a philosophy of how to live life in a way that is fulfilling and satisfying. Sunday, I tried to point out that much of the world’s answers to our lack of happiness, joy, and love are because we don’t love ourselves enough. So, the saying goes, when we learn to love ourselves well, we can love others better. And many Christians point to Matthew 22:37-39, which is the great commandment to love God and others…as we love ourselves, as their proof text for this.
But there is a severe issue with this “love myself first” strategy. Namely, it is not the way that God created us. God created us to love God and love others, with the same type of “others-focus, sacrifice” that we find in the Godhead. So, the question is, what did Jesus mean by “love your neighbor as yourself”? Did He mean, “love yourself first, then you can love others like you’re loving yourself”? Or did He mean something else?
Knowing that our natural, sinful self loves itself first, I’m inclined to read Jesus’ words like this, “Love your neighbor as you (already) love yourself.” I say this because we know from Ephesians 5:29 that we already nourish and cherish ourselves and that no one has ever hated himself. And I say this because when I look over the biblical landscape, I see things like “denying yourself” (Luke 9:23-24) or “do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit but…regard others as more important yourself” (Philippians 2:3-4). Verses like these tell me that our issue is that we love ourselves too much already. And since we naturally love ourselves already, we should love our neighbor, like we already love ourselves. We pamper ourselves; we make sure that we’re well-fed and clothed; we make sure all of our needs are met, etc. So, when Jesus tells us to “love our neighbor as ourselves,” I think this is what He’s getting at.
Now, let me go a tad farther with this. I think the Bible teaches us that we actually love ourselves better when we love God most. And in turn, this allows us to love other people really well. What Christ does in us, as Christians, is His love for us, helps us see God’s love towards us, and this inspires/motivates our love for Him. When we love Him (because He first loved us), we actually get a better view of ourselves, and we become a better version of ourselves (to use another cultural phrase). So the goal shouldn’t be to love ourselves more. It should be to believe God’s love for us in Christ more and love God more because of that. This, in turn, will help us love ourselves better and love our neighbors, as Christ loved us.
An Inside Look:
I often get asked how I prepare a sermon and how long it usually takes me. And some ask me about the busiest or most challenging times of the year. And honestly, it’s Easter week, and right now–Christmas week. The reason is, I’m preparing two sermons in a regular workweek. It’s challenging for me because I’m not a fan of just re-doing an “oldie but a goodie,” but I want to discern what the Lord might want for our church right now.
So, this week is not busy with meetings but with meditation, study, and writing. It’s not as tiring as running a chainsaw, but it’s daunting (especially when you know what’s coming) Christmas Eve on Friday and then another sermon on Sunday.
In a normal week, I would write an outline on Thursday, plus an introduction. Then Friday, write the sermon body and conclusion. Then Saturday night, after my family is settled in, I go over it one time before bed. But this week, I’m hoping to write Christmas Eve’s sermon today (Wednesday) and then try to stick to the same process for my Sunday sermon tomorrow and Friday (with a shorter day because of Christmas Eve).
My wife will tell you that she can generally tell where I am in sermon prep by the “stress” level that begins to show about Wednesday. It hit me this morning as I left the house.
I appreciate your prayers this week.
From The Cheap Seats:
- So, Texas A&M drops out of the Gator Bowl because they don’t have enough scholarship players. I get it…COVID has wreaked havoc, as well as players deciding to skip the game to prepare for the NFL draft. But doesn’t this really put the Gator Bowl in the lurch?
- I think Buck Showalter to the Mets is a great hire. That guy is crazy smart when it comes to the game of baseball.
- One more win to clinch the NFC East. If you would’ve told me at the beginning of the NFL that my favorite team would be 10-4, I would’ve asked if you were smoking something herbal…but I will take it.
- Bo Nix to the Oregon Ducks…wow, that’s a big signee. But I personally think this hire might be the scariest one: https://247sports.com/Article/Oregon-hiring-away-Texas-AM-staffer-Marshall-Malchow-per-report-178591824/.
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Dave York
