The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:  “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?”  But we have the mind of Christ.

—1 Corinthians 2:14-16

Love Yourself

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 

— Romans 12:3

What is your immediate thought when you hear that someone loves themselves?  Conceit?  Arrogance?  Pride?  “Loving yourself” in today’s world usually translates to mean that you love some thing (usually superficial) about yourself, such as looks, possessions, status, money, or a significant other.  The reason some people do not love themselves is because they have based their self worth upon these things and currently lack them.

A large percentage of our television shows and advertisements are focused on surgically altering (cosmetically), physically changing (weight loss/quick fix exercises), or superficially covering (make-up/fashion) one’s body these days.  Billions of dollars a year are poured into “making over” the way God created us, which means there are a lot of people who don’t genuinely like how they are, let alone love who they are. 

Don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes.  Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing?

—Matthew 6:25

And why worry about your clothes?  Look at the lilies and how they grow.  They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

—Matthew 6:28-29

Oswald Chambers says this about the “lilies of the field” and us: 

“They grow where they are planted.  Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us.  Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere.”

We refuse to grow where God plants us because we tend to not like who we are, where we are, or what we are—God’s intended creation.  Many of us look at ourselves each day through the world’s point of view.  Instead we need to look through God’s eyes.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

—Psalm 139:14

Until we are able to love ourselves and accept God’s creative work in us, we will fall short on loving others as the Lord has commanded us to do.

Love Others
 
And the second (commandment) is like it:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’