When we talk about self-love, many people wonder what the Bible says about it.
In a world where we are constantly told to “love ourselves,” it’s important to ask how this idea lines up with what God teaches in the Bible.
Does God actually want us to love ourselves? Or does He expect us to focus more on loving others and loving Him?
Let’s dive deeper into this topic to understand what the Bible truly says about loving ourselves and how we can apply this wisdom to our lives.
The Greatest Commandment: Love God and Love Others
One of the most famous passages in the Bible comes from Matthew 22:37-39.
Here, Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
This is the first and greatest commandment.
The second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
When Jesus gives us these two commandments, He is clearly showing the priority of love in a believer’s life.
First, we are called to love God with everything we have.
This means putting Him first in every aspect of our lives.
But right after that, we are called to love our neighbors.
The phrase “as yourself” gives us a clue about self-love.
Jesus assumes that we already have some sense of love for ourselves.
After all, how can we love others if we don’t have a healthy understanding of what it means to love?
Self-love here is not a command to be self-obsessed or self-centered, but a baseline for how we are to treat others.
Self-Love Isn’t Selfish
Some might think that loving yourself is a selfish act, but the Bible suggests otherwise.
Healthy self-love isn’t about putting yourself above others.
Instead, it’s about recognizing your worth as a creation of God.
Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
In this verse, David celebrates how God created him.
By acknowledging that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” we begin to see ourselves through God’s eyes.
This kind of self-love isn’t about arrogance or pride; it’s about accepting and valuing the person God made us to be.
True self-love aligns with humility.
It’s about understanding that our value comes from God, not from the world’s standards.
It’s a kind of love that motivates us to care for ourselves so we can better serve others.
Avoiding Self-Obsession
While it’s important to love ourselves in a healthy way, the Bible warns us against self-obsession.
2 Timothy 3:2 describes how, in the last days, people will become “lovers of themselves” in a negative sense.
This kind of self-love leads to selfishness, greed, and pride.
When we focus too much on ourselves, we can lose sight of God and others.
Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us to “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 means that while self-love is important, it should never come at the expense of loving others.
The balance is found in loving ourselves as God loves us—without making it all about us.
Jesus’ Example of Selflessness
When we think about how to love ourselves, it helps to look at the life of Jesus.
Jesus, who is fully God and fully human, never acted out of selfishness.
Even though He had the right to demand glory and honor, He chose to humble Himself for the sake of others.
Philippians 2:6-8 says, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Jesus knew His value as the Son of God, yet He used His life to serve, heal, and ultimately give up everything for humanity.
This is the perfect example of how we should balance self-love with love for others.
We should take care of ourselves and recognize our worth, but we should always use that understanding to serve others, not just ourselves.
Loving Yourself as a Temple of the Holy Spirit
One powerful way to think about loving yourself is to remember that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul writes, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
This scripture reminds us that we should take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Loving yourself in this way is an act of worship to God.
It means honoring the life and body He has given you by treating it with respect.
This doesn’t just apply to physical health, but also to mental and emotional well-being.
If we neglect ourselves, we won’t have the strength or capacity to love and serve others effectively.
Self-care, in this sense, is an important aspect of loving yourself as a reflection of God’s love.
Self-Love and Forgiveness
Another important aspect of loving yourself is learning how to forgive yourself.
The Bible talks a lot about forgiveness, but we often focus on forgiving others and forget to forgive ourselves.
Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
If God has forgiven us, we need to let go of the guilt and shame that we sometimes hold onto.
Self-forgiveness is a critical part of self-love.
It allows us to move forward with a healthy mindset, free from the burdens of past mistakes.
By embracing God’s forgiveness, we can love ourselves more fully and live in the freedom He intends for us.
The Danger of Comparison
One of the biggest obstacles to loving yourself is the temptation to compare yourself to others.
In today’s world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring our worth based on what we see in others.
Social media, success stories, and even our friends’ achievements can make us feel inadequate.
But the Bible warns against this mindset.
Galatians 6:4-5 says, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”
This passage encourages us to focus on our own journey with God.
When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we lose sight of who God made us to be.
Loving yourself means embracing your unique identity in Christ without feeling the need to measure up to someone else’s standards.
Humility and Self-Love Go Hand in Hand
At first glance, humility and self-love might seem like opposites, but they actually complement each other.
Humility is not about thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.
It’s about recognizing your value in God’s eyes while also acknowledging that others are just as valuable.
In James 4:10, we are told, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
When we practice humility, we allow God to elevate us in ways that we might never expect.
Self-love rooted in humility helps us avoid pride while still understanding our worth.
Loving Yourself Without Idolatry
The Bible frequently warns against idolatry, and self-love can sometimes veer into that territory if we aren’t careful.
Idolatry occurs when we place something or someone above God in our hearts.
If we become overly focused on self-love, we can risk turning ourselves into idols.
Luke 9:23 says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
This verse reminds us that while it’s important to care for ourselves, we must always keep Christ at the center of our lives.
Loving yourself doesn’t mean worshipping yourself.
It means seeing yourself as God sees you and living a life that honors Him.
Loving Yourself Through God’s Eyes
One of the most beautiful aspects of loving yourself is understanding that God loves you first.
1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.”
When we view ourselves through God’s eyes, we begin to see how valuable we are to Him.
He created us, loves us, and has a purpose for each one of us.
This understanding leads to a healthy form of self-love, grounded in the truth of who we are in Christ.
It’s not about boosting our self-esteem through worldly means, but about embracing our identity as children of God.
Final Thoughts
So, what does the Bible say about loving yourself?
It tells us to love ourselves in a way that honors God and allows us to love others well.
Self-love is important, but it should be balanced with humility, selflessness, and a focus on God.
When we understand that our worth comes from Him, we can love ourselves in a healthy, godly way.
And in doing so, we are better equipped to serve God and others with the love and compassion that He calls us to show.