Silliness of Self-Love

But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless— like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. Ecclesiastes 2: 11

By every sign we are great lovers of self. Our checkbooks show on whom we like to spend. Look in our bath rooms at all the “personal” products. We love to talk about ourselves (Facebook) and we get a charge out of being liked (Facebook again). For most of us, we are number 1.

I am not sure that it’s really self-love. Look at how much time, effort and money we spend on improving ourselves or in making us seem better than we are. Perhaps we realize that we are not as great as we make out.

In many cases, in fact, we are our own worst enemies. Look at what we eat, how little we exercise or take care of ourselves. Consider how we fail to plan for our futures or act in our own best interests. 

Our attempts at self-love pale at the efforts of others to love us. Nothing warms us like the smile of a loving grandchild or the touch of a life-long partner. We can’t produce those feelings within ourselves. 

Know that the love of yourself is more hurtful to you than anything in the world.

Watkins, James (2016-01-12). The Imitation of Christ: Classic Devotions in Today’s Language (Kindle Locations 495-496). Worthy Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Probably the best test of love is the beneficial effect it has on the one loved. We benefit, not at all, from self-love. We get good feelings and often concrete benefits from the love of others. However, we are most benefited by the love of God, whose love saves us, sanctifies us, and prepares an eternal place for us. All the love we attempt to lavish on ourselves will never do that. 

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