#Clarification of a #bible verse
Question፦ Hello,
I have a question:
In the bible, we are told to love our neighbor like ourselves.
Which indicates that we need to have self love in the first place. Having self love also sets us up for having healthy relationships with others & loving them properly.
When we practice self love, some things we learn about are putting ourselves first, setting boundaries so we have healthy relationships with people, having good self care and etc. The practice of prioritizing our needs and putting ourselves first impacts one’s wellbeing positively. However, when a person is constantly taking care of others and abandons him/herself, it can lead to burn out and can impact their mental health.
Therefore, knowing how important it is to have self love and prioritizing ourselves / putting ourselves first.How does one balance their own mental well-being and happiness with the biblical teaching of serving others and taking care of their needs?
- Is it biblical to put ourselves first or is this a secular teaching? Or is this something that is supported by the bible and we are supposed to put ourselves first, etc while also making sure we are serving others. Meaning, they don’t go against each other?
Philippians 2:4 ESV/ 260
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV / 179
“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor”
John 15:13 ESV / 46
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Answer፦ Dear seeker of truth,
In your thoughtful inquiry about balancing self-love with the biblical call to serve others, it is vital to understand the scriptural perspective that guides our understanding. In the Orthodox tradition, the concept of love encompasses both oneself and others, but always through the lens of Christ's love for us.
St. Paul advises in Philippians 2:4 to not only consider one’s own interests but also the interests of others, illustrating the balance between self-care and altruism. This does not imply a secular self-prioritization that leads to selfishness but rather a godly attentiveness to one's well-being so that one may be of service to others. It is a call to vigilance over one’s spiritual and physical health, to be fit to serve God and neighbor effectively.
1 Corinthians 10:24 deepens this by urging us to seek the good of our neighbors, emphasizing that our actions should edify others and not just ourselves. This does not negate self-care; rather, it places it within the context of communal harmony and the welfare of others.
Moreover, John 15:13 shows the ultimate form of love: sacrifice. Christ’s example of laying down His life for His friends sets the highest standard of love, where self-interest is transcended entirely for the sake of love.
Thus, in our tradition, it is not about putting oneself first in a worldly sense but nurturing oneself in godliness to wholly and holily love and serve others. Self-care in Orthodoxy is about preparing oneself to be a vessel of God's grace, not merely for personal satisfaction.
Now, beloved in Christ, how might you begin to implement this balanced approach to self-care and service in your own life, ensuring your well-being while also fulfilling the command to love your neighbor?
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
© John's Repentance
Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends: https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance