A Guide to Proper Self-Love – The Rule of Law: Government of the Heart (6)

A Guide to Proper Self-Love

The Rule of Law: Government of the Heart (6)

Self-love is appropriate, within the framework of God’s Law.

“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18

Hate and lust are only two of the many forms into which a healthy self-love can degenerate. The believer is called to love himself (Matt. 22:34-40). We are made in the image of God and redeemed for His glory. He loves us and commands our neighbors to as well. If we did not love ourselves we would not reflect either the character of God or His purpose for us on earth.

At the same time, self-love can become degraded and corrupt until, at its worst, it manifests in such forms as hate or lust. There are degrees of corruption prior to these, however, and the Law of God provides a valuable hedge against the tendency of our affections drift from pure and holy love and to begin the slide into corruption.

For example, the Law of God guards our hearts against indifference to the needs and well-being of our neighbors. We must show concern for the poor and needy, the stranger and sojourner, and those whose well-being depends upon our being good stewards of our possessions (cf. Exod. 21:33, 34; 22:5, 6; Deut. 15:7, 8, 11; 22:1-4; 24:17, 18; etc.). It instructs us in the proper ways of showing respect to others (cf. Exod. 22.28; Lev. 19:32; Deut. 5:16; etc.). And it counsels us against taking advantage of our neighbor when we might be in a position to do so (e.g., Deut. 24:13-13).

All these are various affections of our hearts, and each suggests an opposite affection to be nurtured or suppressed: compassion rather than indifference, respect rather than neglect or scorn, forbearing rather than taking advantage. The Law does not present a complete catalogue of the various affections of the heart. Instead, it addresses the most potent of them and points to the others in order to suggest ways that we must seek to take to heart all the words of God’s Law. Thus we may learn to love Him and our neighbors from the depths of our souls, from this most important component of our being.

For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the life of faith, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Bookstore, then Church Issues.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.