Is the idea of self-care or self-love selfishness in disguise? • The Subtle Lie Hidden in Self-Love Philippians 2:3–4(ESV) “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Mark 12:29–31 (ESV) 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Exodus 20:3 (ESV) “You shall have no other gods before me.” Leviticus 19:18 (ESV) “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV) “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” When God takes His rightful place on the throne of our Hearts, we look up to Him in submission and invite him to look into us for transformation, so we are able to look to others with compassion. • The Danger of Putting Ourselves First 2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV) 3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. • Denying Yourself is Best Way to Love Yourself Matthew 16:24–26 (ESV) 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Jesus did not call the disciples into a life of self-love and influence he called them into a life of self-sacrifice. Galatians 2:20 (ESV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. • Know The Difference Between Self-Care and Selfishness Luke 5:16 (ESV) 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Am I living for myself, or am I dying to myself? Self-love says: “Promote yourself.” Jesus says: “Humble yourself” Self-love says: “Put yourself first.” Jesus says: “The last will be first” Self-love says: “Please yourself.” Jesus says: “Please Me.”