You are not selfish if you love yourself. So learn to love the physical and spiritual you unselfishly. Yes, it is true; the Lord will take care of you. But you also have a role to play in taking care of yourself. So do your part! Enjoy this 11-minute lesson to get more details!

Love Yourself: Learn to Self-love in a Good Way

Ironically, most do not see the primary message in the picture, “love yourself.“

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: Matthew 22:37-39. Bible lesson background Matthew 22:34-40: Many people in positions of authority have no problem with the concept of “self-love.” This was especially true of the Pharisees, with whom Jesus talked, and the Sadducees (religious leaders), their rivals.
For one thing, they were attention seekers. They always desired the best seats and respectful greetings in public (Luke 11:43). Not only this, but they often tested Jesus, trying to trap Him (Luke 11:53-54).
Unfortunately, these people were perfect examples of self-love in a bad way (selfish).

Matthew 22:37-39 [read Matthew 22:34-40 [(37-39)]

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind [Deuteronomy 6:5]. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it:
Love your neighbor as yourself [Leviticus 19:18]. (CSB)

KJV: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Good health (self-care)

Learning to love oneself selflessly and positively is the lesson’s focus. Therefore, self-care boils down to loving oneself and good health!

Ecclesiasticus 30:15-16 [read Ecclesiasticus 30:14-20 (15-16)]

A sound, healthy body and a cheerful attitude are more valuable than gold and jewels. 16 Nothing can make you richer or give you greater happiness than those two things. (GNT)

KJV: Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth. 16 There is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart.

If you know how to value yourself, then you can value others. Now that I am an older citizen, I realize the need to respect, appreciate, and take care of myself. That is why I stress the need for self-love.

Use your bodies for God’s glory

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 [read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (12-13)]

“I am allowed to do anything,” you say. My answer to this is that not all things are good. Even if it is true that “I am allowed to do anything,” I will not let anything control me like a slave. 13 Someone else says,
“Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” Yes, and God will destroy them both. But the body is not for sexual sin. The body is for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. (ERV)

KJV: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.
Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Your body belongs to God, it’s His temple (sanctuary)

Did you not know that your bodies are now the church, and no longer is the church a human-made building? So cherish your body and take care of it.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 [read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (19-20)]

Or, do you not know that your [physical] body is a temple [i.e., sanctuary] for the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves, 20 for you were bought [by God] for a price.
So, honor God with your [physical] body. (AUV)

KJV: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Do not defile (corrupt) God’s temple

Thayer’s Lexicon: In the opinion of the Jews, the temple was corrupted, or ‘destroyed’ when anyone defiled or, in the slightest degree, damaged anything in it, or if its guardians neglected their duties.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 [read 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 (16-17)]

You know that you are God’s sanctuary and that God’s Spirit lives in you, don’t you? 17 If anyone destroys [corrupts] God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him, for God’s sanctuary is holy. And you are that sanctuary! (ISV)

KJV: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God [i.e., the church. See 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Timothy 3:15], and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The implied reasoning is that the temple is holy; you are the temple, therefore you are holy.

Take care of yourself

I urge you to take good care of yourself. Yes, it is true, the Lord will take care of you. You also have a role to play in your care.

Ecclesiastes 5:18 [read Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 (18)]

After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life.
And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work.
It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live. (MSG)

KJV: Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

Appreciate the physical you

• Get proper rest and avoid stress.
• Exercise as often as you can.
• Be proactive and eat healthily. You can prevent serious health conditions that may develop later.
• Do not drink or get drunk. Avoid using tobacco and illegal/party drugs. Surprisingly, you can enjoy life when you have a clear mind.

And appreciate the Spiritual you

• Develop a good relationship with the Lord. Show Him respect by the way you live your life.
• Abstain from sexual sins. Your body is God’s temple.
• Show love to others, especially those in need.
• Treat others in the same way that you want them to treat you.

Learn to Self-love in a Good Way

1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 [read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (4-5)]

God wants each of you to use his body in the right way by keeping it holy and by respecting it. 5 You should not use it to please your own desires like the people who do not know God. (NLV)

KJV: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

Learn all you can

Proverbs 19:8 [read Proverbs 19:8]

If you learn to be wise, it shows that you love yourself. If you understand what is right, you will do well. (EASY)

KJV: He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

Bonus: The mirror therapy

So many have a poor self-image. Are you unhappy with yourself or something about yourself? For instance, you may not like your shape or a certain part of your body.

1. Stand in front of a mirror (in your clothes or naked).
2. Place your hands on the part or parts of your body that you do not like/love.
3. Look into your eyes and say, “I love you. I am sorry that I was ashamed of you, but, I adore you.“
4. Repeat this as often as needed to learn to appreciate everything about yourself.

Please remember that you are one of God’s children. So, each time you look into a mirror, love what you see. In conclusion, obey God and love others as you, as a child of God, love yourself. Most importantly, you must love and take care of yourself!

Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

To Love; Learn How To Love Like Jesus Loves – an estimated 16-minute read.

Let God Take Care of Your Worries and Concerns – an estimated 4-minute read.

Jesus Became A Human: This Is What Love Is – an estimated 9-minute read.

Vision of the Heart, Your Vision or the Lord’s? – an estimated 6-minute read.

Agape Love; Genuine Love of God is True Love – an estimated 26-minute read.