Am I a lover of self?

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul warns Timothy that in the “last days” people will be lovers of self rather than lovers of God. It is easy to read that phrase “lovers of self” and simply imagine someone that is fully arrogant and conceited. And if I feel confident that I not either of those two things than I don’t have to be too concerned about becoming one who falls into the category of “lover of self”.

And yet the contrast of lover of self isn’t necessarily humility and meekness but rather one who is a lover of God. I can actually have a humble and meek manner that still seeks my own desires over God’s.

The question isn’t: do I love my family? Do I love my neighbors? Do I love people? All of those are good things and asked of us by God but I can love others and still ultimately live in self-love. The real question is: Do I love God?

Ken Boa writes, “Does our desire to know Christ exceed all other aspirations? If not, whatever is taking His place in the center of our affections must yield to Him if we are to know the joy of bearing spiritual fruit.”

The heart of not becoming a lover of self is placing God at the center of our affections so that all of me yields to all of Him.