The topic of self-love is incredibly popular in today’s culture, is it not? Even within the church, it’s become a popular antidote to the daily struggles we face.
Can I share with you some wise words on the topic that were laid before me this morning?
Today I’d like to offer an encouragement from a man whose deep appreciation for the grace of God rings out clearly in his book, A Gospel Primer. He offers daily reminders of what the Gospel is and why we have such a desperate need for it every moment of every day.
This mornings section on the topic of self-love and our call to be wary of it was an encouragement to me, and I hope it will be to you as well:
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Compared to greater endeavors, self-love is mundane and tiresome. Consequently, the more thoroughly I can be done with such tedium, the freer my soul will be to soar at its God-intended heights.
One of the leading causes of my natural tendency to self-love is fear. I fear that if I do not love myself there would be no one left to love me quite so well as I do. An even more significant cause of self-love is a lack of persuasion that there is someone out there who is worthy to be loved more than I.
Arrogance lies underneath both of these causes: I love myself supremely because I am the most worthy person I know to be loved and also because I think I can do a better job at it than anyone else. Such arrogance makes me dangerous, yet it is deeply ingrained in my sinful flesh.
Thankfully, the gospel frees me from the shackles of self-love by addressing both of these causes. First, the gospel assures me that the love of God is infinitely superior to any love that I could ever give to myself. “Greater love has no on than this,” says Jesus while speaking of His love. And the deeper I go into the gospel, the more I experience the truth of His claim and thereby know how far His love for me surpasses even my own. His astonishing love for me renders self-absorption moot and frees me up to move on to causes and interests far greater than myself.
Second, the gospel reveals to me the breathtaking glory and loveliness of God, and in doing, it lures my heart away from love of self and leaves me enthralled by Him instead. The more I behold God’s glory in the gospel, the more lovely He appears to me. And the more lovely He appears, the more self fades into the background like a former love interest who can no longer compete for my affections.
Preaching the gospel to myself every day reminds me of God’s astounding love for me and also of His infinite worthiness to be loved by age above all else. These reminders deliver a one-two punch to my innate self-absorption and leave me increasingly absorbed with Christ and with God’s ultimate plan to gather together all heavenly and earthly things to Him.
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
-Milton Vincent
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Let’s stop worrying so much about loving ourselves well.
Rather, let’s focus more on loving God well and resting in His kindness and grace poured over us. His love is more than we could ever need and is so much more sufficient to share with those around us!
Much love, friends!
A link to The Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent:
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Primer-Christians-Learning-Glories/dp/1885904673/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10HJV4WKMTY2&keywords=the+gospel+primer&qid=1667052307&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjY0IiwicXNhIjoiMS4yNyIsInFzcCI6IjEuMjYifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=the+gospel+primer%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1
My Family Freedom 