By Pastor Mark Lee

This summer, many people will spend time visiting beaches, lounging by the pool, and soaking up the sun with a good book in hand.   While popular fiction and non-fiction titles are sure to be included on quite a few reading lists, statistics indicate that the majority of summer readers will be enjoying self-improvement books.  In fact, self-help is a multi-billion dollar industry and has become the best-selling literary genre.

With titles such as “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depended on It” and “Knowing Your Worth,” it would seem that self-loathing is as much of an epidemic, if not more so, then selfishness.  The problem with having a negative view of oneself is that it can affect a variety of aspects of life.  The choices you make and actions you take are all influenced by the way you feel about yourself.

Although everyone agrees that is it important to focus more on others, it is also important to remember that we are allowed to love ourselves.  Taking care of our bodies, giving ourselves grace, and speaking kindly to ourselves is not a reflection of selfishness.  After all, when we care for our own mental, physical, and spiritual needs, we are better equipped to serve others.

The key to loving ourselves is to know where our value lies.  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Our worth should not come from the opinions of others, the size of our bank accounts, or the reflection in the mirror.  Instead, it should come from the fact that God made us and He doesn’t make junk.

VantagePoint Church meets at Roosevelt High School on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.