Speaking notes:
According to Jesus, the second greatest commandment in the Bible is this:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
I’ve been going to church all my life, and I’ve never heard a preacher talk about this like what I’m about to say.
I don’t know if I really want other people to love me like they love themselves.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Some people confuse this with the “Golden Rule:” Do unto others as you want them to do unto you.
Love your neighbor.
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
They sound the same, don’t they?
If you Google “love your neighbor as yourself” and look at only the results that come from Xans, they will focus on how do you love others.
This is in line with every preacher I’ve ever heard speak about this “2nd greatest commandment.”
But most Xans miss an implied truth.
Let me state this commandment in a different way:
Love yourself! Then love others in the same way.
This is different from “do unto others.” It’s different from just loving your neighbor.
This put the focus on you.
And this is the reason I say I’m hesitant to say I want others to love me like they love themselves.
Because most people I know don’t do a good job of loving themselves.
Three examples:
- Self-talk
Try this. Make a list of all the things you say to yourself this week. Then repeat these things to your friends and neighbors.
Will they think you are a loving person?
You’re such an idiot.
You know how you are! You’ll find some way to screw up.
You’re not good enough.
- Keeping promises
How many times do you tell yourself you’re going to do something and then something comes up, or you just plain don’t feel like it.
Diet and exercise.
Taking time to rest.
Most of us keep promises to others better than to ourselves
- Burning yourself out.
Life can be hectic.
We push ourselves and ignore the warning signs that we’re damaging our health (physical and mental).
Usually you can see burnout or risk of burnout in others before you see it in yourself.
It’s easier to love others than to love yourself.
So here is what I suggest you do:
Love your neighbor – do good to others. And love yourself the same way.
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