Jesus calls us to firstly, love God.

And secondly love each other.

He gives us guidelines for how to love each other as well. In this verse he says we should love others as we love ourselves. I believe that Jesus here is making a big statement on the human condition. First and foremost, he is giving us something we can all relate to as to the level of love that is expected when we engage with other people.

But deeper of that, he is also making comment on our selfish tendencies as humans to love ourselves before we love others.

Lately I have been trying to view life in a selfless state. In a effort to truely die to self, I have been consciously putting other’s needs and desires before my own. I’m not saying it is easy, and I think part of it is intrinsically linked with being a human and preserving your own life, but I also feel that we as the society have taken it too far.

Society is focussed around being an individual, who you are as a person. Its about commodities and getting the latest and greatest for yourself. Making yourself look good in front of the friends you do have.

Would not the world be a greater place if we stopped kidding ourselves about what is important in this life and began by blessing each other with each other’s love? With God’s love? Is that not how God intended us to live – not for ourselves, but for each other? Why else does God place more importance on Love, than he does on things like hope, and even faith? (1 Corinthians 13:13)

It is easy to love ourselves. It requires extra effort to love others.