In the context of LOVE :
When reading the Bible, we must always understand that the motivation behind every action is LOVE. God's love is not exhausted when His wrath appears, nor does His love subside in the face of rebellion. Once we see love in everything that God does and decrees, then we can learn to OBEDIENTLY (faithfully) love as He loves.
This is why the Apostle Paul declares that...
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:13
Everything that God does is in LOVE.
"For in Him we live and move and have our being." - Acts 17:28
ALL things are from the power and authority of the Almighty... Great love, from Him to us.
When reading any of God's message to humanity (Bible) always identify His provisional love, then mankind's response (what he/she does with His love), and the consequences.
Other's focused (sacrificial) love must be a disciple's (follower of Jesus) motivation behind every action taken.
From God, through us, to others (a rushing river, not a stagnant pond).
In the context of SELF :
If pure and undefiled love is SACRIFICIAL, meeting the needs of another (John 15:13), then let me ask this question...
Can you or i meet our own needs?
If you answer, "Yes. I can educate myself, I can work, I can hunt, and I can provide for my needs."
That would mean that we are indeed able to love our SELF.
But everything from your abilities to your opportunities are provided from God...
"For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" - 1 Corinthians 4:7
"In Him we live and move and have our being." - Acts 17:28
Then actually (and quite literally) God provides ALL the LOVE. And once He showers His love upon you, it is only a matter of you disseminating it (1 John 4:19). For which God, being Creator and Owner of all things, has determined that we love just as He loves... sacrificially, not selfishly.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30
Which means for us to love God through loving others (Matthew 25:40), just as Jesus did.
This decree is precisely what caused men to kill God's messengers (the prophets of old), what causes the majority to "fall away" and seek Him no longer, and what prevents the people with possessions (the rich) from ever finding the Way of forsaking SELF and begin living as Jesus lived.
So, can we love ourselves (meet our own needs)?
NO!! Once God lovingly meets our needs, we can only take the EXCESS and either love Him through others OR meet our own (me, my, mine's) GREEDS.
Yes... as faithful stewards, we are to maintain our ability to serve Him.
Yes... we are to look for ways and opportunities to improve our ability and effectiveness to serve Him.
But... the question from our LORD may very well be, "Why did you keep what you kept?"
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When reading any of God's message to humanity (Bible) always identify the motivation of a person's (or people's) actions.
Everything labeled as SIN emanates from SELF.
In fact, my challenge for you is to substitute the word "self" whenever you read the word "sin".
Satan was cast down due to SELF.
Adam and Eve caused humanity's fall due to SELF.
Cain killed Abel due to SELF.
Job felt mistreated due to SELF.
Moses became angry due to SELF.
King David succumbed due to SELF.
Judas betrayed Jesus due to SELF.
Peter denied Christ due to SELF.
Jesus's temptations in the wilderness were all appeals to Him "doing for SELF," (which He obediently denied doing).
Wars, crime, abuse, adultery, divorce, laziness, lying, lust, jealousy, greed... and every other "sin" is due to SELF.
Every choice we make is motivated by one of only two possibilities... We are either meeting a need OR meeting a greed.
Love, from God to us, then either shared or hoarded.
In the context of CHRIST : the ultimate VERB
Jesus modeled obedience for us to FOLLOW (called discipleship).
His way of living identifies Him forever with the TITLE "The Christ".
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." - Matthew 16:16, Mark 8:29
TRUE discipleship is based on imitation and transformation; learning from, thinking, and acting like your Teacher. To actually model His behavior, not in what He did, but rather in WHY He did. Jesus was ALWAYS motivated by Love.
"Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another." - John 13:34
The Apostle Paul declares, "to live is Christ..." - Philippians 1:21 and calls us to imitate him as he imitates the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
CHRIST is the unification of obedient sacrificial love (righteousness) and obedient denial of loving self (sin).
CHRIST is a way of living in obedience to BOTH the Great Command and the New Command.
CHRIST is the more excellent way that Jesus ushered in, lived, and displayed for us.
CHRIST is "Kingdom Love" that far surpasses anything that the world has to offer.
Jesus displayed all of these to grasp our UNDERSTANDING and to provide for us an EXAMPLE.
Jesus will forever be "The CHRIST."
But in His commands to 'love as He loved" and to "follow His way", He is clearly calling us to what Paul says... "To live is Christ".
Why is the message of the Cross OFFENSIVE???
In a culture that not only looks for but often demands handouts (even amongst the affluent), why would God's free gift of salvation be offensive?
Why would, "You can't do it, only Jesus can do it for you," cause us to stumble or be perceived as foolish?
Because the Cross symbolizes ULTIMATE sacrificial love, to whatever extent God deems appropriate... for which Jesus calls for us all (His disciples) to do LIKEWISE.
The obstacle, offense, and ridiculousness of Jesus's WAY is the "rely on God while living for others" that He showed us and then calls us to FOLLOW...
Which is pure sacrificial love, which is forever symbolized by a CROSS.
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for MY sake will find it." - Matthew 16:24-25
What is not to UNDERSTAND? (Matthew 13:15)
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