As per Galatians 5:22,LOVE is the first Fruit of The Holy Spirit.Matthew 22:37-39 says-
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.’
The above verses clearly state the First commandment is to Love GOD followed by Loving Your neighbor as Yourself.My friends we often ignore the words ‘as yourself’
As Yourself is very important because of few reasons.Firstly many people think so selfishly that they just think and Love themselves but not others.That is really a carnal thing in the sight of the Lord.It really displeases the Lord.Galatians 6:2 states that we should bear one another’s burden.This can only be done if we are unselfish.On the other hand there are people in the world or in the body of CHRIST that have so many offenses,hurts,wounds,bruises,brokenness in life that they forget their identity and in turn forget themselves. They give entry to the spirit of rejection or condemnation and sometimes are unable to forgive themselves.
Bible says to Love your neighbors as Yourself,this can be fulfilled only if we Love ourselves.So in order to Love others and help others we must know and Love ourselves more.This is not becoming selfish in any way but realizing that Loving and caring for ourselves is a must to help out others,those in need.We can spread Love only if we know God,who is Love.Sometimes people curse themselves and hurt themselves because of their circumstances or past life or battle in mind.They can even enter into depression and ultimately commit suicide thinking that nobody Loves them and they are Good for nothing.The emotional damage is too much to handle because of many reasons like failure to please others and more often because of no reciprocal Love or Goodness shown to them by others(in return for what they did to others).
Proverbs 19:8 -To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.
A Wise man always learns to Love himself/herself.They are the people who have proper understanding of their life.
Psalm 139:14- I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.
Many people tend to compare themselves with others and brood or grumble even for small matters (inferiority complex),this gives a way for the negativity to enter and people start hating themselves.Rather we must Thank God that God has made us in HIS own Image and Likeness and we are being transformed from Glory to Glory.
The above Love is different from the one as mentioned in
2 Timothy 3:1-2 You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.
The above verse talks about Lovers of themselves who are selfish,have the spirit of pride and are abusive.God doesn’t like such people.The fruit of The HOLY SPIRIT is also Gentleness.So there is a thin line in Loving Yourself but with a Humble attitude and not be self-Righteous.Simply Glorifying God and thinking of others highly and better than Yourself.
Therefore my friends in order to disperse the Fragrance of Love we must know how to Love Yourself first.
