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The Bible says we should only give and be centered on other people. How does this work if we don’t work on ourselves and wish good for ourselves too?

Posted on October 5, 2021October 12, 2021 By Kingston Tong No Comments on The Bible says we should only give and be centered on other people. How does this work if we don’t work on ourselves and wish good for ourselves too?
Christian Living

Thank you for the application question, “The Bible says we should only give and be centered on other people, but how if we don’t work on ourselves and wish good for ourselves too?”

The Bible does not say followers of Jesus should only give and be centered on other people. The Bible states part of the Greatest Commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves, not necessarily to the neglect of oneself.

Jesus says this in Matthew 22, “34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (NIV).

The Apostle Paul says this in Philippians 2, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (NIV).

The Scriptures teaches that believers are to love one another, not neglecting oneself. They are not to look on their own interests but to the interests of others as well. There is to be a mutual care for one another. Those who have more should give more and those who are in need should accept the help from others. Since believers are to see each other as members of one body, there can be no neglect of any member of the body (I Cor. 12:12026).

Your observation is correct. One ought not to neglect one’s spiritual life nor physical needs. By taking care of oneself, one will be able to minister to others. Having said that, one must be careful not rationalize infinite need of oneself self as the Parable of the Lazarus and the Rich Man or the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive which does not mean the neglect of oneself or one’s family.

SUMMARY: Since believers are a temple of the Holy Spirit, taking care of one physical and spiritual needs are paramount. One can’t give what one doesn’t have if one is spiritual empty or physically restricted.

For further insight and discussion:

https://www.quora.com/The-Bible-says-we-should-only-give-and-be-centered-on-other-people-but-how-if-we-don-t-work-on-ourselves-and-wish-good-for-ourselves-too

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