The Bible speaks about loving ourselves in healthy ways while keeping God and others first. Balancing self-care with humility is key. Today, we’ll see what Scripture teaches about valuing ourselves as God’s creation.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About The Number 13
What Does The Bible Say About Self
Mark 12:30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of self-surrender to God. It calls for a complete devotion of our heart, soul, mind, and strength to loving and serving Him. It reminds us that our love for God should be our top priority and should drive all aspects of our lives.
Psalm 37:5
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.”
This verse encourages us to surrender our plans, desires, and future to God. It reminds us to trust in His faithfulness and promises, knowing that as we commit our lives to Him, He will guide our steps and bring about incredible blessings and vindication.
Colossians 3:23-24
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
This verse instructs us to approach our work and daily activities with an attitude of wholehearted devotion to God. It reminds us that our ultimate motivation should not be pleasing people or seeking personal gain but rather serving the Lord faithfully, knowing that He is the one who will reward and provide for us.
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
This verse speaks to the concept of dying to self and allowing Christ to live through us. It reminds us that when we surrender our lives to Him, we are transformed and empowered to live a new life of faith, relying on the love and sacrifice of Jesus.
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
This verse encourages us to resist the pressures and influences of the world and instead allow God to transform our minds. It reminds us that surrendering our thoughts and perspectives to Him enables us to discern His will and walk in alignment with His perfect plan for our lives.
James 4:7-8a
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of submitting ourselves to God and resisting the enemy. It reminds us that as we draw near to God in surrender and seek His presence, He responds by drawing near to us and granting us victory over the enemy.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
In this verse, Jesus invites us to find rest and relief from the weariness of self-reliance and worldly burdens by surrendering to Him. He promises that by taking His yoke and learning from Him, we will experience the gentle and humble guidance of Jesus, bearing a burden that is light and purposeful.
Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
This verse teaches us the importance of selflessness and humility in our relationships with others. It challenges us to set aside selfishness and personal agendas, instead prioritizing the well-being and interests of others, mirroring the servant-hearted nature of Christ.
1 Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
This passage encourages us to humbly surrender our worries, fears, and anxieties to God, knowing that He cares deeply for us. It reminds us that as we yield to His sovereignty and trust in His love, He will provide for us and exalt us in His perfect timing.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This verse calls us to wholeheartedly trust in God instead of relying on our limited wisdom and understanding. It reminds us to surrender our plans and decisions to Him, trusting that He will lead us on the right path, even when it seems unclear or challenging.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
This verse assures us that as we place our trust and confidence in the Lord, we will be blessed and spiritually nourished. It uses the imagery of a flourishing tree to depict the security, resilience, and fruitfulness that comes from surrendering to God’s guidance and provision.
Luke 14:27
“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
This statement by Jesus requires us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him if we desire to be His disciples. It reminds us that true discipleship demands self-sacrifice, surrendering our will and desires to align with His, and being willing to endure hardships for the sake of the Gospel.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
This verse highlights the transformative power of surrendering ourselves to Christ. It assures us that when we surrender our lives to Him, we are made new, free from the bondage of sin and the old patterns of life, and empowered to live a life that reflects His love and righteousness.
Romans 6:13
“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”
This verse emphasizes the significance of surrendering our entire being to God, refraining from participating in sinful actions or thoughts. It encourages us to present every aspect of our lives to Him, recognizing that we have been transformed from spiritual death to life and now have the opportunity to be instruments of righteousness through His grace.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This verse calls us to prioritize the pursuit of God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else. It reminds us that as we surrender ourselves to His purposes and prioritize His will, He will graciously provide for our needs, knowing that we are faithfully seeking to align our lives with His priorities.
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
This verse reminds us of our identity as God’s masterpiece, created for the purpose of doing good works that He has ordained for us. It prompts us to surrender ourselves to His leading, trusting that He has uniquely equipped and prepared us to make a positive impact in the world according to His divine plan.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
This verse emphasizes the significance of surrendering our bodies as holy vessels for the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. It reminds us that as believers, we belong to God and have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ. Therefore, we are called to honor Him by living in a way that reflects His holiness in every area of our lives.
Psalm 37:4
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
This verse teaches us that as we surrender our hearts and delight ourselves in the Lord, aligning our desires with His plans and purposes, He will fulfill the deepest desires of our hearts according to His perfect will. It encourages us to seek intimacy and obedience to God, trusting that He knows and provides what is best for us.
Matthew 22:37-39
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
In this passage, Jesus summarizes the two greatest commandments: to love God with all our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It calls us to surrender our hearts and minds to loving God wholeheartedly, allowing His love to flow through us to others, treating them with the same love, kindness, and compassion we have for ourselves.
Psalm 23:1-3
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”
This well-known psalm assures us of God’s care and guidance when we surrender to Him as our shepherd. It depicts the Lord as our provider, protector, and source of rest and refreshment. As we surrender to His leadership and follow His guidance, He promises to lead us on the right paths, providing for our every need.
Psalm 46:10
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'”
This verse encourages us to surrender our striving and busyness, finding rest and peace in God’s presence. It reminds us that He is sovereign and in control, and as we cease our frantic efforts and acknowledge His lordship, He will assert His authority and bring glory to Himself in all the earth.
Isaiah 40:29
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
This verse speaks to God’s willingness to strengthen and empower those who surrender their weaknesses and weariness to Him. It assures us that as we lean on Him and trust in His strength, He will provide the supernatural resources we need to persevere, overcome challenges, and fulfill His purposes for our lives.
Matthew 4:19
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Jesus’ invitation to the disciples serves as a reminder that surrendering to Him involves following His lead and participating in the Great Commission. It calls us to surrender our lives, talents, and gifts to His service, actively sharing the Gospel and making disciples, partnering with Him in His work of bringing people into a relationship with Him.
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of surrendering ourselves to love others sacrificially. It challenges us to surrender our selfishness, preferences, and prejudices, choosing to love others as Jesus has loved us. By displaying this selfless love, we bear witness to our identity as Christ’s disciples and draw others to Him.