“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 BSB)
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NLT)
“By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (John 5:30 NIV)
“To thine own self be true.”
“Look out for number one.”
“It may cost more, but I am worth it.”
“I’ve gotta be me.”
I could go on and on with slogans, writings, and song excerpts that proclaim an inflated value of self promotion. Even the Church has jumped on board with a growing emphasis on “self love.” The Bible does teach that we are to love others as we love ourselves. However, to properly understand what loving myself means as a follower of Jesus I need to remember that I live in the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth where things are inside – out and upside – down. In the Kingdom, loving myself starts with dying to self, living for Jesus, and sacrificing myself for the sake of others.
Jesus set the example in how He lived and loved. He did not live to please Himself. He lived to please His Father by serving others. He poured out His life to bless everyone He met. He put the needs, and desires, of others ahead of Himself. He found the greatest joy in bringing joy to someone else. He modeled the way to true happiness and fulfillment – serving the Father and others.
I have found that the harder I try to please myself, the less lasting pleasure I experience. In my marriage, I. have learned that the expression “happy wife, happy life” is true. When I stopped trying to get my wife to please me, and started looking for ways to please her, I gained more pleasure in our marriage. The same life principle is true in all areas of my life, especially in my relationship with Jesus. He taught me that the only way to find myself was to give myself away.
As I am maturing in my relationship with Jesus, I am finding that I can never out give Him in any area. I no longer go to Him to receive. Instead I look for ways to give to Him knowing that He has already given me everything that Heaven has to offer. My greatest pleasure is finding ways to please Him.
I have learned…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 160: “The more I live to please Jesus, the less I live to please myself.” (Amazingly this results in far more pleasure than any other lifestyle!)