A New Commandment
Before learning more about dating, finding the right one and getting married, there are a few steps we must understand before we jump into marriage. Before entering a relationship with anyone, we should know a relationship with God is required. Without a relationship with God we see that we will struggle in our relationships and find that maybe they lack intimacy or depth
We see this clearly in the gospels when Christ is asked what is the greatest commandment. He simply quotes the OT law saying, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ Deu 6:5 | Mt 22:37-40 | Mk 12:30. But after this He says “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” For many of the early church fathers this verse made clear sense as to what it meant. But for us, it is a little hard. How am I supposed to love myself?
Christ Centered OR Self Centered?
Some of us took the time to create some goals as typical during a new year, and we try to keep up with them...
What Are the Aims of the Goals?
Setting goals, trying to improve one's life, taking steps forward are all good things. Maybe you have career ambitions or health goals.
These are great but what are your motives? Is your view on life self-centered or Christ centered?
Will it Glorify God at the End?
Why do you want to advance your career? Why do you want to lose weight? Even with mental health being a large topic sometimes we try to find means of rationalizing things for our own benefit. Like a rest from work or service.
Christ-Centered is the Goal
There is a difference between a self-centered rest and a Christ centered rest.
What's the Difference?
Parable of the Samaritan | Lk 10:25-37
Eternal Life
A person who is well versed in the law comes to Christ and asks “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Love God | Love Your Neighbor
Christ tells him “you tell me” and the man says “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And your neighbor as yourself”
Who is my Neighbor?
Christ tells him well done, do this and you will live. So the man then asks who is my neighbor?... Parable of the Samaritan
How Can You Love God Whom You Have Not Seen?
Focusing on yourself might come at the cost of your relationship with others. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 1st John 4:20
From the Beginning
Self-centeredness is something we struggle with since the beginning and has its roots like most things in the first man and first woman, Adam and Eve.
It is quite ironic, in eating the fruit Adam and Eve learned more about themselves. They became self-conscious and figured out they were naked. In transgressing the first commandment maybe they gained more consciousness and their eyes were opened. But it is not this knowledge of good and evil that corrupts humanity.
Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Humanity’s worth is not defined but our knowledge, wisdom, possessions it is only defined by God. When you decide to walk your own path and not with God only problems will persist.
Cain killed his brother Abel
The people tried to buld a tower to God & their languages were confused
Living a self-centered life comes at the cost of God & your neighbor
How Are We To LIve?
1) Understand that God Loves Us
Humanity is the crown and glory of God’s creation, everything was created for humans. And God created man out of love. God had love with Himself and not one that was selfish but one that is perfect and this is because God is trinity. God did not create because He had a weakness of some sort but because He loved. As when two people love at the most intimate level a person is created so was humanity created from God’s love. Therefore we were created to have a relationship.
We know that God loves us because He created us on the last day, everything created before was a means of preparing. He created us in His image and likeness. He gave us rule over the whole earth. Even now after we sinned He gives us a way back through repentance and confession and through His merciful forgiveness.
When you fill your soul with this love of God you then can proceed forward.
"Learn to love humility, for it will cover all your sins. All sins are repulsive before God, but the most repulsive before God, but the most repulsive of all is pride of the heart. Do not consider yourself learned and wise; otherwise, all your efforts will be destroyed, and your boat will reach the harbor empty." -St. Antony the Great
2) Selfless
We know that God loves us because He created us on the last day, everything created before was a means of preparing. He created us in His image and likeness. He gave us rule over the whole earth. Even now after we sinned He gives us a way back through repentance and confession and through His merciful forgiveness.
Self Denial
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of other” Philippians 2:3
Whatever it is I want, I deny. If it is between my desire and someone else's, deny my will.
Give up my life not just to people but God. It means accepting the service that God has in store for us.
Anything that we should give to God should be uncomfortable
Self Control
To be able to control oneself either their emotions, their behavior, their desires.
We often feel negative emotions because some things don’t go according to our desire. Self control is learning to control your reactions to these things. To people or situations.
It is also being able to control your fleshly desires that might lead you to sin.
Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
This person who can control themselves is mightier than that person who can control a city. This person is a spiritual warrior.
Am I in control or do other people control me? Am I easily triggered? Maybe I am lacking in self control.
Self Sacrifice
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
God has sacrificed Himself to me. What am I sacrificing for God?
Sacrifice your time to serve
Sacrifice your money and give
Sacrifice your food and fast
In Conclusion
Self love DOES equal pride! The only love that can fill the void within you is that of the love of God. Everything else falls short.
For God's Sake..
To care for yourself means that you love God.
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it."
You Must Love Your Neighbor
Yes you can focus on your career, yes you can give focus to your relationships, yes you can take a break or a rest, yes you can give focus to your health.
You must indeed love your neighbour, but your love must not cause harm to your soul.
By Him All Things Were Created
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:15-17