A Selfish Love (1 John 4:11)

Why is it so difficult to love others?

We hear the pop psychology diatribe that the problem is we first have to love ourselves. While having an important sense of self-esteem is definitely important, this is only looking at part of the truth.

We need to love ourselves because God first loved us.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:11

We may take self-help classes, we may take relationship courses, we may even seek counseling to help us learn how to love others. But all of this will be of no avail if we do not first come to the realization that we need to see ourselves the way God sees us. If we do not, then all of our efforts are truly selfish, because they are directed inward and not outward and upward toward God.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, then you are no longer separated and estranged from Him by sin, but adopted as a son and fellow heir with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Loving yourself first can only be done by loving yourself as God loves you. The God of the universe loves you and wants to shower you with His blessings! When you truly grab hold of this awe-inspiring concept, all other relationships will fall into place. Because when God is for us, who can be against us?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.