Part of the notable successes of this age is the growing acceptance of self just as one is. It is a fast spreading message many are accepting. Be you. Be you to full (BEAUTIFUL!!).
A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.
– Mark Twain
Ironically, the opposite can still be sited as one of the greatest failures in this generation. With tools such as cosmetics and cosmetic surgery, photo shoot and filters, social media, hip pads and many others; it’s become easier and perhaps very convenient to portray an image one is not and conform to unrealistic trends. What’s happening? What’s being looked upon or projected by the media is often not original or duplicate and doesn’t promote either. It’s often a case of duplicated duplicates of copied fakes – very far from original.
While the latter exposé gives credence to the spreading message of self-love, self acceptance and self confidence, that supposed solution possibly creates another problem. It is the extreme of selfishness. To believers who dwell too much at this extreme, love becomes impossible. Because one of the things love is is SELFLESS (1 Cor. 13:5). One of the things love isn’t is SELFISH (James 3:14-16). It becomes an abomination to put others interest above yours. But that’s not love. We are commanded by God’s Word to love. Love is the old law and it is the new law. Believers, we are told by scripture, will be known by their love for each other and others (John 13:35). Apostle John in his first letter reveals that it is impossible to love God and not love the brethren. So what is Love? We must all find out.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
– Jesus Christ
(John.13.34)
One of the words invented by this extremist position is “self-love”. In the strictest lens however, those two words (“self” and “love”) don’t match. We were forewarned in the Bible that “self-love” would be a sign of the end time (2 Tim. 3:2).
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
– Phil. 2:3, ESV
What then is the solution? It’s not self-hate that leads to pretending and inferiority. It’s not self-love that leads to selfishness and only attempts but fails to solve our feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. It’s not self-hate that makes you think everyone is better than you nor self-love that makes you the centre of your own life with others far less important. In fact, the mirage of self-love only hides self-hate. That’s why our captions don’t match our feelings. That’s why we still yearn for likes and comments no matter how hard we pretend to be hard. That’s why anger simmers in one towards others who look or seem great.
The answer is CHRIST LOVE. Christ Love brings peace to you.
Christ Love makes you accept yourself.
Christ Love makes you value others too.
Christ Love makes you know you’re unique and perfect.
Christ Love makes your motivation in serving others purely Love – because you’ve received what you didn’t deserve from God. You don’t serve as a way to feel better about yourself or buy human acceptance.
Christ Love makes you have a healthy concern for yourself – not to the detriment of others.
Christ Love makes you sacrifice certain things you would have loved for yourself. You sacrifice them for the sake of others. You go the extra uncomfortable mile. And you do so willingly and joyfully.
Christ Love fills the hole. He satisfies. He makes you Ok.
Christ Love isn’t received once and for all time. He’s loving you everyday. Until you make His Love ravish you daily, you’ll be at the mercy or cruelty of others or sinful (carnal) self.
Read the New Testament portion of your Bible to know more about Jesus Christ’s love for you.
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
– Jeremiah 31:3, ESV
Pious D. Serwonu