Many years ago, a cartoon character quoted this statement, “We have found the enemy, and he is us!” Wow, what a view!
When we think about an enemy, we tend to draw a picture of something that immediately is threatening to us now, at this very moment. Then we tend to remember past hurts and memories, then we draw conclusions of what is real or not real, then we decide how at this very moment we feel about the whole situation. Does that sound familiar? Although your steps of review may be slightly different, but the concept is about the same. We tend to analyze, discern and draw conclusions of what we go through and how valuable it is to us. Our attitude, emotions, and decisions are based upon our experiences, it seems. Yet, we tend to forget we live by faith, not by sight, how we feel, or even what we eat. Does not scripture tells us in Deuteronomy and Gospel of Matthew, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” We become so involved in our life that we sometimes do not step back to really remember to take care of ourselves, emotionally, physically and most importantly spiritually. But how can we, if we have a poor institution of thought towards ourselves!
How many of you have heard the statement, “The enemy is not the one in front of you, screaming, yelling, or cursing at you, but it’s the one who’s behind it all!” Yes, I do me Satan, lucifer, the angel of darkness, the evil one, and so many other names we can give it.
Scripture clearly tells us that Satan is the source of all deception and deviance. To divide, separate, and destroy all things for his honor and not God’s. In the book of Job there is a part where Satan himself went before God and God asked him where did he come from. Listen to Satans response, “Going to and fro on the earth, and walking back and forth on it.” Here you see a glimpse of what he does on daily basis. So in knowing how Satan works, listen to what is in the Epistle of Peter, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” That real stuff, friends! So why all this talk about Satan, deception and deviance in regarding self?
I wanted to give you an insight into a concept that many are not well equipped to discuss, including myself, much less accept, the actual reward of loving yourself. Even when in scripture, it gives multiple examples of how selfishness, self-centeredness, and other related words are what Christ tells us to avoid at all costs, as this breaths into focus a falsehood of a sinful desire that is not Godly. But without even questioning Gods instructions, let us go to the first and prime example we have in the book of Genesis.
Adam and eve in the garden! All was well when God created the earth and all the inhabitants. Then one day eve was tempted by the devil and ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So this sparked the fire that has destroyed humanity to date. But I want you to listen to what Adam had to say to God after he ate of the fruit and God asked him what have you done, “The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me some of the fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
So instinctively, Adams's response to God was self! Instead of facing the sin directly, admitting it, he tried to pass the blame right off the start onto the only living human on earth, his wife eve. Next, we review how eve shifted blame to the serpent, the devil himself, for they both made tremendous mistakes. But I want you to try and understand something, who is responsible for our actions? Whos ultimately is responsible for our decisions? We are! When its boiled down, it all comes down to our response and how we act, whether Godly or ungodly.
In matters of self, there tends to be a line drawn into the sand, and one side and the other are directly opposing each other without much leeway. Much like the age ole problem, you can look, but not touch. You can touch but not taste. You can taste but do not swallow. It's just enough instruction to allow for so much interpretation, isn’t there? But how in the world can we actually love ourselves, when we have so much against us to drive us away from what is good, wholesome and Godly? How can I love myself with the many sins I committed? How can I love myself when myselfish desires drive me into the wrong direction? How can I love myself when…I think you get the idea! You can fill in the blank!
Each one of us can and will continue to make excuses to love ourselves in such a way, that it could border total disobedience to God. Adam and eve are just one example.
To love oneself friends, although easy to read, its not so at times is it! In reading the Gospel of Mark, let us hear again what was read, “One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no other besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Theres a lot of material here, but what I want you to focus on is at the end of the statement, “is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Those two commandments! The first we have seen before and sort of understand, but the second, Love your neighbor as yourself, is a different category!
So now, we have a concept that Jesus is telling us that not only is perceived as impossible, but it also is mandatory! To Love God with all of our being, and to Love your neighbor as yourself! So here is an age-old question: how can you love your neighbor, your fellow man, if you do not LOVE YOURSELF!
Now we are NOT talking about selfishness, being self-centered, we are talking about the down deep roots of loving who you are! Loving the person that looks into the mirror; every wrinkle, flaw, imperfection, past sinful history, emotional problems, mental problems, medical problems and so on. What is Jesus really trying to say here!
Is it not true that we can be our own worse enemy? When we are hard on ourselves, beat ourselves up, have a self image that isn’t so realistic but we tend to genuinely believe it, we give measurement of that image into consideration of what we actually are compared to what we think. What we really are and what we think are two different things.
Let me try to clarify it with one of Pauls writings to the Corinthians, “Take care that no one deceives himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written: “He is the one who catches the wise by their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are useless.” So then, no one is to be boasting in people. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
Did you hear that, All things belong to God, and you also belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. So this means, all of us belong to God! Where isn’t there self love in that?
Ephesians tells us, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved”
“After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church”
Romans tells us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Leviticus tells us, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
1 John tells us, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love”
Psalms tells us, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
And so many other scriptures tell us clearly, God loves each one of us, so we are required and we can love ourselves! We can forgive ourselves because God forgave us already. We are sinners, but Christ died for us as a demonstration of his love. Its all about a free gift called GRACE!
Just as Adam and Eve blamed someone or something else for their bad decision, we too are held accountable for our own actions. The one action Christ tells us to do is to LOVE OURSELVES, even in the midst of trouble, adversity and self cripling behavior! When we have Christ in us, we can love ourselves as God sees us. The measuring stick we use, should not be of the worlds, but only through Gods eyes.
Now here is a catch to the all of this! Are you ready! Just as soon as I finish speaking and even before you leave this church today, Satan will already be starting in your mind, “What the pastor said, isn’t all true! Don’t you remember this thing you did or the hurt that person caused you. You need to dwell is that darkness to feel better.” These are just a few of the things satan will try and lure you into. Self-doubt, cripleing tricks that can only bring us down, but what must we do! We must KEEP CALM and STAY ANCHORED IN CHRIST! Say that with me! We put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.
There is a line between LOVING self and LOVING our selfishness. In the world of narcissistic people, there still should be love to self. Self is what drives us to a friends house to help them in time of need. Self is what exercizes our prayers for others. Self is when we work at a homeless shelter or feed those in need. Self is what comes to church and worship, fellowship, help with activities, etc. If we had NOT LOVE FOR SELF, where would be be! We all need to improve in loving self, so let us start today. Not tomorrow, but today, and always remember friends, we are not in this alone. Christ is always with us no matter how bad you THINK you are, or how sour the circumstance you are in. Strength comes from God, and God lives in us. So what is our reward for loving self! Ultimately serving God so we may inherit eternal life! We reward ourselves because we desire LOVE. When God, whom is LOVE made each of us, we too desire LOVE, and that my friends is the goal. To Live In Love. Amen.