Dr. Helen Titilola OLOJEDE

Last week, we began a discussion on the love of self and self-love which we shall conclude this week. According to Fr Croiset “We refuse to recognize the will of God when it contradicts our self-love. The reason is that in truth, it is not the will of God that we take as the rule of our conduct, but our own inclination and our own self-love which we wish to make the rule for the will of God." Given this, it is important to prioritise love of self above self-love as the former helps us to stay in God’s will.

 

One of the ways we could make the love of self paramount is change our perception about love and to see it as self-giving which goes beyond emotional satisfaction and pertains to the giving of oneself to others in acts of service. It refers to understanding the intrinsic worth of others and willing their good, thus mirroring God’s love for humanity.

Further, love of God and love of neighbour is inseparable, Christ links the two. While loving God comes first as a commandment, loving one’s neighbour comes first as a deed. It is also important to note that love transcends mere concept. It is an active word which pertains to personal relationship with Jesus Christ

 

What are ways in which we can foster love of self in God and reduce self-love? It is important to immerse oneself in the word of God to understand His nature and how he has loved humanity and His commandments. Seeking the guidance of God is another way to foster love of God. Reflect on how God’s word addresses your struggles, moments of joy, provides direction for your life. It is also important to put God’s will first and be obedient to God by living according to His commands and His teachings and asking for the grace to do this especially when it is most challenging. We cannot overemphasise the importance of prayer in a Christian’s life and most especially in overcoming crass self-love.

 

From the Gospel of Matthew. "Jesus said to his disciples, whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be, for one, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" How simple and yet important this question is for us to sit with. It is in losing our lives for Jesus's sake that we find true life in Him.

 

Peace