Do you love your ‘self’? How could I ask such a question in a world so intoxicated by the infamous ‘LOVE YOURSELF’ mantra? This dazzling motto is sold to us everywhere on merchandise. It is broadcast proudly throughout the media. It’s inescapable, and is nothing new.

This mantra has lived a long life and has surrounded us from the beginning of time, literally. Eve succumbed to the temptation to love herself.

“And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”‭‭ ~Genesis‬ ‭3:2-6‬ ‭

But why would anyone waste precious time avoiding self love?? Wouldn’t they simply seek to love themselves – it seems like an obvious, happy thing to do. God however tells us otherwise! He warns us not to be wise in our own eyes. Don’t be fooled! Our “self” (aka “flesh”, “carnal mind”, “body”) is not something to be on loving terms with. God says:

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” ~Romans 8:8

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” ~Romans 8:6

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” ~Galatians 5:16-17

All Christians set about on a journey to do the opposite of what the world says is wise. We will go against the grain. At times this will be easy, at times it will be painful. But the reward is not an earthly reward but a supernatural one! Our muse, Jesus Christ, is with us, all of the way, all of the time as we embark on this path. His rod and staff comforts us.

The wise men brought myrrh to Jesus. Later, after His death, Joseph & Nicodemus brought myrrh to Jesus. Myrrh, a resin, is an embalming spice. Jesus’ life & death was an offering – the only acceptable sweet sacrifice in God’s eyes. As William S. Plumer says in his book The Rock Of Our Salvation:

“He is a bundle of myrrh. To his saints he is and is owned to be Creator, captain, counsellor, covenant, cornerstone, a covert from the tempest…He is a Fountain of living waters to thirsty souls, of joy to troubled souls, of life to dying souls”

~pages 10 – 11

As we go through life we must die to self, not idolize our ‘self’. This is not a burden, but gain!

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed knowledge after the image of him that created him:”~Colossians 3:5-10