September 22, 2002

Matthew 22:34-40

Before the passage: This is one of those passages near the end of Jesus’ earthly life where the opponents of Jesus are trying to trick him, and cause him to say something that they can then use against him. Of course some of Jesus most profound statements occur when he is being tested. Let’s take a look. Keep in mind that the word used here, "law" is "Torah" in Hebrew. It refers to the first 5 books of the Bible - the Law of Moses, the Law of God.  Please read the passage.
 

 Before I start preaching, would you do me a favor? We’re going to talk about the love of God this morning. Would you turn to 3 people and say to them, "God Loves You." It’ll feel weird, but it won’t take long and it won’t hurt, I promise! Say to 3 people, "God Love You."

 It’s a little strange to say that to someone else. But do you know who the hardest person is to say that to? The person you see in the mirror.  (If you said that, would you believe it?)

 It’s easier to tell somebody else that God loves them, than it is to tell yourself. It’s easier to tell somebody else that God forgives them, than it is to tell yourself. It’s easier to tell somebody else that they are loved, and worthy of joy and happiness, than it is to tell yourself. The man in the mirror, the woman in the mirror, is sometimes the hardest person to love.

 In a month from now we’re going to celebrate Colonial Sunday. We do so every other year. It’s the day  that we dress up in colonial outfits and worship as our ancestors did long ago. One of the prominent characters of this service is Handkerchief Moody - Joseph Moody, Father Moody’s son (played brilliantly by David Cox). Handkerchief struggled with depression on and off throughout his life. George Whitefield, the great colonial preacher met Handkerchief on several occasions including during some of his darkest times. Whitefield said this about Joseph Handkerchief Moody, "He has difficulty applying the promises of God to himself."

  "He has difficulty applying the promises of God to himself." Don’t we all? God loves you. (But do you really believe that?) God, the Creator, your Creator, thinks you are incredible. Jesus, the Savior, thought you were worth dying for. St. Augustine said, "If you were the only person who ever lived, Jesus would have died on the cross, just for you." God your Creator loves you. Jesus the Savior loves you. And . . . . God the Holy Spirit loves you so much that the Holy Spirit wants to live within you forever (and give you love, joy, & peace - the fruits of the Spirit). God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Loves You! Christian writer, Max Lucado, puts it this way - "If God has a refrigerator, your picture is on it."

 But to many of us, that sounds too good to be true. We have trouble believing that God really loves us - because all too often, we don’t love ourselves. We have difficulty applying the promises of God to ourselves. We have difficulty applying the love of God to ourselves.

 And it’s no small matter, because Jesus said that we have to love ourselves in order to truly love others. "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." He implies that we’re supposed to love ourselves. Love your neighbor, in the same way that you love yourself. It’s OK to love ourselves.  It’s part of what He expects. It’s part of the Good News.

 The seminary where I got my doctorate from, Eastern Seminary, changed their slogan (their Mission Statement or Focus Statement). It’s used to be, "The Whole Gospel for the Whole World."    (The term "Whole  Gospel" means the  message of the gospel plus the love of God lived out in acts of compassion, justice & peace-making). Well, several years ago they changed the slogan to,  "The Whole Gospel for the Whole World through Whole Persons." That’s even better!

 Whole persons know that they are loved by God. Whole persons love themselves, in a humble but genuine way. When we don’t love ourselves it’s hard to love others. Because we’re often too over focused on ourselves.

 I received a card once that said on the front, "Tired, Depressed, Anxious, Worried?"  On the inside it said, "You bet I am. What’s up with you?" When we don’t love ourselves, we have difficulty loving others, because we want others to simply meet our needs and make us feel loved. We don’t have as much to offer when we don’t love ourselves.

 It’s like a ledger sheet or an Emotional Bank Account. If I don’t have very much self-esteem & love in my account, then I don’t have as much to share with you, and instead I’ll look to you to make a deposit, to fill up my account. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love yourself and you have more to share with your neighbor.

 Here’s some red flags when it comes to the issue of loving ourselves.

When we’re not loving ourselves . . . .

 1. We look to others constantly to meet our needs and fill our tanks.
 2. We are perfectionistic with ourselves and incredibly impatient about our progress or lack thereof. -
    "I should be way beyond this by now."   "Love is patient"
 3. Our minds are filled with Negative Self-Talk - "You idiot, Rich. How could you be so stupid."
 4. We are quick to feel, not only guilt, but also shame.
  - "I am such a loser. There is no hope for me."
  - Guilt is, "I made a mistake." Shame is, "I am a mistake."
 5. We have difficulty receiving compliments - we may crave them, but when we actually receive one we feel terribly embarrassed & don’t know what to do with it."
 6. We don’t take care of ourselves. Eating. Sleeping. Exercising. Friendships. Spiritual & Personal Growth. When we make time for these things we are loving ourselves. When we don’t care for our bodies & souls we’re not loving ourselves. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church. For this reason, love your wife as yourself."
There it is again - love your spouse as you are loving yourself. Love yourself and love your spouse - cherish both.

 Workaholics are perfect examples of not loving oneself. For two reasons. One is, Workaholics work to justify their existence. "I work therefore I am." "I am a valued person because I constantly work and produce." Do you hear the lack of self-esteem in that statement? I am not valued for who I am, only what I produce - only when I’m working.

 Ministers are the worst at this. We preach that we are saved by grace. But we live by the old doctrine of being saved by our works. And so we work & work & work s
o we can feel good about ourselves. But when we overwork, we actually have less to give to others. I’ve had a couple of sessions over this past year, especially after Sept. 11th, where I would be talking with people,  trying to help them, but I was exhausted, and I would just yawn & yawn & yawn. Imagine talking to someone who yawned 30 times in a one hour session? That’s not likely to energize someone, is it? If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of others.

 "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

 It’s like that talk the Flight Attendants give: "In the unlikely event of an emergency, the oxygen masks will be released the overhead compartments. Parents, before helping your children, first place the mask on yourself." Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

 Usually at the end of the service we send you out into the world  and basically we say to you, "Go out there and love someone - for God’s sake." Today, we say to you "Go out there and love someone who is very important, take care of someone who is very important, attend to someone who is very important . . . Yourself."

 And so for God’s sake, your neighbor’s sake, and for your sake . . . Love Yourself this week.

 Let’s close with a Guided Mediation. Please sit up straight & close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths to relax & center. Picture a clearing in a woods. It’s a beautiful bright sunny day in the clearing. The trees are green, the air is fresh, the sun is warm & just right. Jesus is seated in the clearing. Children are all around him. They are so happy to be with him - the delight of children playing with one they love and One who loves them so much. There i
s laughter and giggles, but most of all joy from the children. You can hear some of them singing, "Jesus Loves Me, this I know." Jesus now has a child in his arms. He is holding the child gently, embracing the child in love. You can see the love on Jesus. It is a perfect picture of divine love. Then suddenly the child lifts up its head and turns around . . . . and it’s you. You are the child in Jesus’ arms You are dear to him and he loves you.

 Receive that love today.

Rich Knight