Devotional Loving self verses loving others

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭8‬ ‭

Do you focus on loving yourself before you love others? Society tells those who will listen, one must first love oneself before you are able to ever love another person. Think for a moment, don't you find genuine happiness when you have given of yourself to help others? Those who focus on themselves usually do not care about those around them, but when you work to help others before yourself, you find many friends who care about you. Jesus wants us to love everyone, so by helping others we are spreading our love, and others who witness this love will also spread their love to others.

 

[lynnmosher]

Do you focus on loving yourself before you love others?

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While what you have said is true, there's one verse, well, two, we cannot ignore: Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matt. 22:37-39 NKJV)

 

[suspensewriter]

What would you recommend when someone has an orientation of hate towards others?

 

[Lonestar648]

While what you have said is true, there's one verse, well, two, we cannot ignore: Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matt. 22:37-39 NKJV)

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Thanks for mentioning this. I guess I assumed this if you are loving others, though if you love only yourself then you do not love God.

 

[lynnmosher]

Yup. That's so true.

 

[Lonestar648]

What would you recommend when someone has an orientation of hate towards others?

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Unfortunately, there are some whose hate has so consumed them, their hearts have hardened against any good. Those who seem to hate, who expect you to be confrontational with them, may have the wind taken out of them if you lovingly disagree. Many of these people live for the argument so if they can't yell and scream, their ears may be open to hearing reasoning, to feel the love you are conveying.