Whitney Houston sang
"Because the greatest love of all is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve learning to love yourself,
it is the greatest love of all"
Learning to love yourself, it is the greatest love of all. I’ll admit I’m not certain what she meant by this. But it sounds like TERRIBLE theology.
I’ve attended different schools in my lifetime. I’ve learned some things. Some say I still have a lot to learn, and they’re right.
But there is one thing that I have never had to learn.
I have NEVER had to learn to love myself. I came out of the womb knowing how to love myself. I was born loving myself, preferring my needs and desires and comforts to those of others. Screaming, crying, whining and throwing tantrums if I don’t get MY way. Lucky for you, I try not to do this in public any more.
Jesus had other ideas about the greatest love of all. Matthew 22
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Jesus said “Love God!” with all your heart and soul and mind. And “Love people!” “Love yourself!” is not on the list. “Love yourself!” is not the solution, it’s the problem. Loving yourself is not how you get peace. It’s why you lack peace.