Self-Love 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Culture of Self-love Told that people lack self-esteem Told that people lack self-esteem Song by Whitney Houston: The greatest love of all Is easy to achieve Learning to love yourself It is the greatest love of all Song by Whitney Houston: The greatest love of all Is easy to achieve Learning to love yourself It is the greatest love of all Is this the problem? Is this the problem?

Study Results "There are many potential benefits of self-esteem, but we wanted to see, among other things, whether those benefits are clear when viewed across time," said Dr. W. Keith Campbell, an assistant professor of psychology at UGA. "Has this increase among college students resulted in societal boons? Unfortunately, during that time, few positive changes have occurred in children's and young adults' behavior. Indeed, most of the relevant behavioral indicators have worsened."

Study Results "College students' self-esteem has increased substantially, but this happened at the same time that SAT scores declined and anxiety increased," said Twenge. "Thus college students' high self-esteem seems to be built on a foundation of sand." (Dr. Jean Twenge, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University)

Study Results "In short, although self-esteem is on the rise, it is difficult to find many clear, positive benefits of this increase when viewing broader cultural-level changes. We as individuals may think more highly of ourselves, but we as a society apparently have little to show for it. (Quotes from a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Review, October 2001)

Introduction Nothing could be further from the truth Nothing could be further from the truth Focusing on self brings heartache Focusing on self brings heartache God intended for us to focus on Him God intended for us to focus on Him

A Problem...Not A Need Top of the list Not something good (2 Timothy 3:5) Not the greatest love Loving God and neighbor is the greatest love (Matthew 22:34-40)

A problem from childhood A problem from childhood Begin life as self-centered individuals Begin life as self-centered individuals Do not know right from wrong (Isaiah 7:16; Romans 7:9) Do not know right from wrong (Isaiah 7:16; Romans 7:9) Are to outgrow it (1 Corinthians 13:11) Are to outgrow it (1 Corinthians 13:11) Some like Absalom never do (2 Samuel 14:25, 26; 29-31; 15:1-6) Some like Absalom never do (2 Samuel 14:25, 26; 29-31; 15:1-6)

Brings Misery Upon All Nobody brings misery on like oneself Nobody brings misery on like oneself Those in love with self are miserable Those in love with self are miserable Hamans enormous power wasnt enough Hamans enormous power wasnt enough Mordecai wouldnt bow down (Esther 3:1-6) Mordecai wouldnt bow down (Esther 3:1-6)

Brings Misery Upon All Ended up destroying him Ended up destroying him Never could be happy as long as Mordecai was at the gate (Esther 5:9-13) Never could be happy as long as Mordecai was at the gate (Esther 5:9-13) His love of self made him miserable His love of self made him miserable

Makes One Lonely Usually a lonely person Usually a lonely person I never found anyone to fulfill my needs A lonely place to be So I learned to depend on me (Song) I never found anyone to fulfill my needs A lonely place to be So I learned to depend on me (Song) Someone once said, You cannot be your brothers keeper if you are caged by selfishness Someone once said, You cannot be your brothers keeper if you are caged by selfishness

Makes One Lonely Providing things for self not the way Providing things for self not the way Never has been so (Ecclesiastes 2:10, 11) Never has been so (Ecclesiastes 2:10, 11) Ann Landers: At age 20, we worry what others think of us, at 40, we dont care what they think of us, and at 60, we discover they havent been thinking of us at all. (Signs of The Times, March 1993) Ann Landers: At age 20, we worry what others think of us, at 40, we dont care what they think of us, and at 60, we discover they havent been thinking of us at all. (Signs of The Times, March 1993) Thinking of themselves, not us Thinking of themselves, not us

Is Sinful Not just a matter of selfishness Not just a matter of selfishness Self-seeking (Romans 2:8; James 3:14) Self-seeking (Romans 2:8; James 3:14) A desire to put oneself forward, a factious partisan spirit. This word is found before NT times only in Aristotle where it denotes a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means. (Arndt & Gingrich) A desire to put oneself forward, a factious partisan spirit. This word is found before NT times only in Aristotle where it denotes a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means. (Arndt & Gingrich) Are to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23) Are to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23) Not slaves to the flesh (Philippians 3:19) Not slaves to the flesh (Philippians 3:19)

Is Sinful Brings destruction Brings destruction Self Self Others Others Condemned before God (Romans 2:8-10) Condemned before God (Romans 2:8-10)

Conclusion Beware of danger of self-love Beware of danger of self-love God first God first Others second Others second Self last Self last