Value Yourself

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14) When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 and said we are to love God with all our heart. But He also added the second greatest commandment: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (See Mark 12:31.) To love yourself is to value who you are. Love is not a high opinion of yourself which often engenders a sense of entitlement. Self-value is how you act toward what you value, including yourself. To value God is to love Him. Our actions, sacrifices, and commitments make plain our values rather than sentiment or emotion. Value yourself even if others devalue you. The most critical people in your life are those who cannot accept themselves because of their imperfections. Perfect things are not genuine things. Perfect people are not genuine people. If you can accept yourself without denying your need for change, you will be more likely to accept others who fall short knowing they too can change. Jesus accepts everyone who comes to Him. He does not cast away any sinner, but He does cast out sin. To value Christ is to value yourself. He accepts you just as you are, but He values you too much to leave you that way. As His Body, we must do the same.