Lovers of Self

“For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy…” (2 Timothy 3:2)

            Paul warned Timothy that one of the signs of the deterioration of a society is that people will become lovers of self.  Interestingly enough, the modern mantra that you must “love yourself” has become so ubiquitous that it is generally acknowledged as a basic truth that we should, at all times, love ourselves.  Scriptures instead say the opposite.

            There are parts of myself I believe I should not love at all, and I suspect the same is true for you.  Some aspects of my character and my desires are entirely reprehensible and not deserving of love – in fact, they ought to be expunged completely.  To love myself as I am assumes that there is nothing about me that is anything less than perfect, and to say that is to call God a liar (see 1 John 1:8) and nullify the cross.

            There are parts of all of us which are so miserably unlovable and wretched that we should weep over them (see James 4:9).  To love myself is not the answer, nor is it the philosophy to live by.  I need saving.  I need Jesus (see Romans 7:24-25).

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

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