Should You Love Others Before Yourself?

[Robert W]

I have been much happier than when I was single and had no thoughts except 'what's in it for me?'

Wives are married to men who believe they are happier with wives. Partly because of the children that you admit you love.

 

[Seymour Flops]

The 'sacrificial' love that you speak of transcends even agape.

Yes, it does.

It doesn't seem like a sacrifice. When you have a family that means more to you than your own self, your natural selfishness, that everyone has, is extended to them. I selfishly want my kids to succeed far more than I did.* I selfishly want my kids to be even happier in their relationships that Mrs. Flops and I are in ours.

 

[Road Runner]

I second this and if you love someone enough, you will put them before anyone else including yourself.

I do believe that's different than not loving yourself and looking out for yourself to not allow yourself to be a doormat.

 

[JOSweetHeart]

^^^ I know, but I once heard it said that the meaning of the word "joy" is this.

J-Jesus
O-Other people
Y-Yourself

God bless you always!!!

Holly

 

[braalian]

Depends on the others.

 

[MayorQuimby]

The second one is "I love you more than I love myself." We've both used this phrase MANY times but what does it even mean? Do I even love him more than I love myself because if I did I don't think that I would be speaking up every time I feel like he's done something to upset me and just treat me however he wants to as I've put my happiness first in this relationship although his happiness means the world to me too.

"I love you more than I love myself". Ah yes, I know that feeling, except that I would have phrased it differently. Make it more interesting. Your sentiment is beautiful but the way it's presented, it's boring.

Btw, didn't know you were actually a woman.

 

[MayorQuimby]

Can't speak to the 'are you on the menu' as nobody I know uses that phrase.

But as an amateur Bible scholar, I have been advised that the Bible verse "love your neighbor as yourself' can also be translated from the ancient text as love yourself so that you can love your neighbor.

OK, I know next to nothing about the Bible, but I had always thought that "love your neighbor" simply means to get along people who you are in close physical proximity to, because they are the people who can help you when you need it the most.

It's good for the society, too. Imagine people just fighting with their neighbors. It would be chaos.

 

[MayorQuimby]

If you love yourself enough, you'll never need penicillin.

Just saying...

Gotta be careful, some STDs are caused by viruses.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

OK, I know next to nothing about the Bible, but I had always thought that "love your neighbor" simply means to get along people who you are in close physical proximity to, because they are the people who can help you when you need it the most.

It's good for the society, too. Imagine people just fighting with their neighbors. It would be chaos.

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Like you, I am only learning bits about the Bible, but in the year and a half I have been seeking and obtaining membership in the Catholic church, I have learned more than anything to try to see Christ in every face, just as I want others to see Christ in me.

I want others to treat me as if I were Christ returned to Earth, so that is how I must treat them.


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[MayorQuimby]

What Kind of God Are They Preaching?

As I've always pointed out, "saving the life of the 'mother'" is a solid contradiction of the Pro-Life position. So is "except in cases of rape or incest." That proves how viciously cruel the illusion that the fetus is a baby becomes. Whoever is behind this hypocritical scheme only wants power over others, even over those not in the congregation.

Abortion is a special case of murder. Yes, a human life is destroyed, however, it doesn't feel anything, nobody will be missing it if it dies, no bonds will be broken...etc. So, aborting the fetus that resulted from rape, while it does go against the position that abortion is murder, nevertheless it's still a good thing. We don't want the fetus to grow up to become a potential rapist. Stuff like that is hereditary.

 

[MayorQuimby]

Like when you're on a plane that's about to take off and the flight crew are explaining the importance of putting on your oxygen mask BEFORE putting your child's mask on him/her.

Yeah, I have always wondered about that. I know that the air will go out, but, does it really go out that fast? Airplanes aren't huge or anything but they do have some space/volume. They are filled with air, and if air is slowly leaking out, it should take a few minutes to go out completely, shouldn't it?

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Yeah, I have always wondered about that. I know that the air will go out, but, does it really go out that fast? Airplanes aren't huge or anything but they do have some space/volume. They are filled with air, and if air is slowly leaking out, it should take a few minutes to go out completely, shouldn't it?

.

Good point. Maybe they're just pointing to worst possible scenario.


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[Foxfyre]

OK, I know next to nothing about the Bible, but I had always thought that "love your neighbor" simply means to get along people who you are in close physical proximity to, because they are the people who can help you when you need it the most.

It's good for the society, too. Imagine people just fighting with their neighbors. It would be chaos.

In my opinion you're on the right track. The New Testament was written in mostly ancient Greek who had four separate words for 'love. The one used in the "Love your neighbor as yourself" is "agape" or to care about everyone and to have the will and choice for the greater good of others. I believe living our lives in a way that we do not cause grief or pain or difficulty for others is an important part of that. To be pleasant and agreeable and not unnecessarily disrespect or distress others or make their life/experience unpleasant is agape love. Mowing our yard and trimming our hedge when we don't ever really look at them but our neighbors do is agape love. To be charitable toward those in need that we have never met and likely will never meet is agape love. And to understand that 'helping' others in some ways can do more harm than good is also agape love.

 

[JOSweetHeart]

OK, I know next to nothing about the Bible, but I had always thought that "love your neighbor" simply means to get along people who you are in close physical proximity to, because they are the people who can help you when you need it the most.

It's good for the society, too. Imagine people just fighting with their neighbors. It would be chaos.

I second this. I've always gotten along well with my neighbors.

God bless you and them always!!!

Holly

P.S. If anything, people should just be good to others because you never know what the circumstances could be should you ever have another encounter with them later on. Both good enough and bad enough behavior is never forgotten about.

 

[Road Runner]

Btw, didn't know you were actually a woman.

Yeah I surprise a lot of people with that fact.

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I want others to treat me as if I were Christ returned to Earth, so that is how I must treat them.


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Nobody but Christ is perfect though.