What is self love in the bible? Self-love is a hot topic these days, especially with the rise of social media and the self-love movement. But what does the Bible say about it? The idea of self-love can be confusing. This is especially true when it seems to clash with the biblical call to humility and loving others. So, let’s dive into what self-love in the Bible really means and how it fits into the Christian life.
Created in God’s Image
First, it’s important to recognize that we are created in the image of God. This isn’t just a feel-good statement; it’s a foundational truth of God’s Word. When we understand that we are made in God’s image, it changes how we see ourselves. We’re not just random beings; we’re children of God, crafted with purpose and loved deeply by our Heavenly Father. This understanding forms the basis of a healthy, biblical self-love.
The Greatest Commandment
Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-39 give us the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Then, He adds, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This is where the concept of biblical self-love comes into play. We’re commanded to love others as we love ourselves, which assumes a certain level of self-respect and care.
Loving yourself isn’t about putting your own needs above others or indulging in selfish ambition. Instead, it’s about recognizing your worth as a child of God and taking care of your own body, mind, and spirit. It’s acknowledging that you are God’s temple, a temple of the Holy Spirit, and treating your body with the dignity it deserves.
The Balance Between Self-Love and Loving Others
It’s easy to get caught up in the philosophy of self-love that’s popular today. A secular approach can sometimes lean too heavily on self-indulgence and putting your own interests first. The Bible warns against this in passages like 2 Timothy 3:1-5, which talks about the last days when people will be “lovers of self, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Such people miss the true meaning of love, which is grounded in God’s love and expressed through loving others.
Apostle Paul also gives us a solid reminder in Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” This isn’t a call to neglect yourself but to balance your self-love with humility and a genuine concern for the worth of others.
As I was preparing to write this blog post, I ran across a video clip from a sermon where the pastor was talking about how Jesus took breaks. It was a great reminder that Jesus is our ultimate guide to how to live life and he did what we would call self-care. We hear the statement all the time about self-care, you can’t pour from an empty cup. He demonstrated that he had to refill his cup too. I wrote more about this in my post, Setting Boundaries as a Christian.
The Love of God and Self-Love
Understanding God’s love is key to understanding biblical self-love. God’s love is perfect love that drives out fear, including fears of inadequacy, low self-esteem, or the pressures of outward appearance that often plague our inner self. In Romans 12:3, Paul reminds us to think of ourselves with sober judgment, according to the faith God has distributed to each of us. This means seeing ourselves as God sees us—not with inflated self-esteem or a lack of self-love, but with a balanced, healthy view.
The Right Kind of Self-Love
So, what’s the right kind of self-love according to the Bible? It’s the kind that aligns with the truth of God, recognizing that we are chosen people. Our self-worth isn’t based on our accomplishments, looks, or what others think of us, but on the fact that we are loved by Christ Jesus, the Son of God. This kind of self-love leads us to care for our own bodies, not out of vanity, but because we are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit dwells within us.
In this light, taking care of our emotional health, practicing self-care, and pursuing a good life are not only acceptable but important parts of living out our identity in Christ. However, this should never turn into a form of godliness that denies its power by focusing solely on the self. Instead, it should lead us to love others, serve God, and glorify God in all we do.
Self-Love in Action
So, what is self love in the bible? True biblical self-love looks like understanding God’s grace, embracing our new identity as a new creation in Christ, and walking in the way God calls us to live. It means loving others as ourselves and living in the light of God’s Word.
In the end, the best life we can live is one that reflects God’s love, cares for our inmost being, and extends that love to others. Whether it’s through good works, showing godly love, or simply living out the quiet spirit that comes from trusting in God, we are called to embody the love of God in every aspect of our lives—including how we love ourselves.
Let’s embrace a biblical view of self-love, one that honors God, loves others, and takes care of the beautiful creation that we are, made in the very image of God.
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