Love Yourself First

Author: Pastor Mike Gutzler

In the end of January, we were discussing a section of the Sermon on the Mount in the 7th chapter of Matthew.

"Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye." And “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

We emphasised the importance of relationships with others, and the centrality of love in relationships. Then upon deeper reflection we noted the importance of having a healthy relationship with ourselves. If God loves us for who we are, why do we tend to be our worst critics? In order to be in a loving relationship with others, we need to love ourselves first.

There are a variety of "8 ways.." or "10 ways..." style blog posts out there to help with self-reflection and self-appreciation. Here is just one example: https://www.brit.co/healthy-ways-to-keep-your-self-reflection-positive/

While these are great, from our position of faith we need to add one more way to be reflective and appreciative, and that is with self-forgiveness. We all make mistakes, and we have no choice but to live with them. There is no use beating ourselves up over and over again. If our God has already bestowed forgiveness, then maybe we should do the same.