How does one love oneself?

[Kevin252010]

I have a weird question. How does one love oneself because I never really have loved myself. In the Bible I know it says something like "Love one another as you would yourself" and in another part it asks "Who then doesn't love them self". Well I can tell you who me. I don't know if I can love others if I don't even love myself.

I have always been a big guy growing up and still am. I always thought of myself as hideously unattractive. I still think that and what kind of woman would ever want me too is what I would ask myself. I just don't know how to love myself.

I understand that we were all made in God's image. I understand that the Lord knew about me before I was even born. I understand that the Lord has a plan for us all. I even believe that the reason for life is that we were all put on the Book of Life.

But still don't understand how does one love them self?

 

[gdemoss]

I'll cite 1 Corinthians 13 to answer:

<< 1 Corinthians 13 >>
New American Standard Bible

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;

We begin to love ourselves when we are patient with ourselves. When we understand that we are but 'dust of the earth' that God molded into man. When we understand that we have Sin dwelling within us ever tempting us to do evil.

We love ourselves when we are kind to ourselves. We can find all kinds of evil to purpose toward ourselves but if we were kind we would not do so. We can find all kinds of accusations to lay against ourselves but if we were kind we would reserve judgment for the one who judges righteously.

We love ourselves when we give up jealousy of thing we hold dear and guard with our lives such as wives and children or material possessions.

We love ourselves when we humble ourselves and confess that we are truly nothing without God as none of us has anything that we did not first receive from him. And we love ourselves by waxing strong in spirit so that we can control physical outbursts that only lead to our embarrassment.

We love ourselves when we stop seeking to fulfill every desire and lust the we have and instead focus on someone else and fulfilling their needs.

We love ourselves when we stop allowing everything that everyone else does to become some personal attack on our ego and person, beginning to try to understand the issues that that person is facing in life and their lack of relationship with God.

We love ourselves when we seek after truth and the righteousness of God our Father through Jesus Christ. Learning how to bear the sins of others that we might bring them unto Christ and bear much fruit.

We love ourselves most when we die to ourselves and live unto God as it is only when this happens does one truly have and live eternal life.

In Jesus Name,

Gary