Who Is #1?
Self-care and self-love are the most important things in our life.
Put yourself first.
Do what makes you feel good.
You have to love yourself.
You have one life, do this for you.
These are just a few of the phrases I have recently encountered while I exercise with online trainers. I understand their job - to motivate me and everyone else listening. While I can see how this would be quite motivating and keep me cycling/running, what if these were mantras for our lives?
The thing is, I know many people use these as self-motivating quotes in their everyday life. Look in any bookstore, and you will find a large section of self-help books, guiding you on how to ‘live your best life’ and ‘put yourself first.’ Many songs we listen to sing about the importance of loving ourselves. People look to this for direction and purpose, but is that what the Bible tells us to do?
In a society running rampant with ME culture, we make sure I get to the top, even if it means knocking everyone else down. Is it Biblical to live like that?
”He must become more, I must become less.”-John 3:30
“Wherever wants to be my [Jesus] disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet forfeit their very self?”-Luke 9:23-25
Additionally,, Philippians 1:27 teaches us to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
Unfortunately, even as believers, sometimes we get everything jumbled up. We let the world define us and show us temporary pleasure instead of the everlasting joy of Jesus.
In Genesis 39, Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce Joseph (several times) into committing adultery, but Joseph did not just refuse her, he ran away from her. Joseph even told her, “My master (Potiphar) has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
Jesus was also tempted for forty days in the wilderness by Satan himself (Luke 4). The devil encouraged Jesus to worship him, and he would give Jesus power and authority. Satan also tempted Jesus to throw himself off the temple roof and have God save him. Both Joseph and Jesus valued their relationship with God more than the short-term satisfaction of sin.
Should I be #1 in my own life? Should I allow everything else to fall by the wayside if it does not directly benefit me in some way? I think that depends on where I place the importance of other things in my life. If I am a believer of Jesus Christ, does he get shoved down lower on the list because the world tells me to put myself first?
1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.”
Ephesians 5:1 even says to be “imitators of God.”
In a world telling you to put yourself first, be an imitator of God.
When Jesus lived on this Earth, he was too busy building up the kingdom to worry about reading a self-help book on washing his face, hustling, or things that spark joy.
Above all else, Jesus loved his Father and loved others. We are instructed to do the same.
So instead of worrying and striving to place ourselves on the top spot of the podium, why not live like Jesus?
I promise you, you will have much more peace and joy.
Who is #1 in your life?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Whitney can be described by the opening lyrics of a few Tom Petty songs. She's a good girl who grew up in a small Indiana town who loves her mama, Jesus, and America too. She practices medicine as a physician assistant at an urgent care. Whitney is a music enthusiast and leads worship at her church. She has a heart for people, and wants to help young girls and women find their worth in Christ rather than what the world says of them. Whitney loves a good dad joke, the outdoors, spending time with family and friends, Southern manners, working on her fitness, attempting Pinterest crafts, and cheering on Indiana University basketball.