The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 19-20
RESTORING Relationships
2 Timothy 3:2; People will be lovers of themselves…
Scripture tells us that as we grow closer to the return of Christ, godlessness will greatly increase.
The first sign of this godlessness, Paul tells us, is to become a lover of self. Normally, when
we hear the word lovers, we imagine a man and a woman in love – heady romance and great
intimacy. There is something grotesque about the term lovers of self. It warps the natural picture
of lovers: instead of a man and woman walking hand-in-hand, we see a person walking alone,
gloating and primping in the reflection of mirrors, store windows, and puddles.
We were made for relationship, first and foremost to be lovers of God – to have a relationship of
intimacy, familiarity, wonder and affection with our Maker. All other relationships stem from that
purpose. Because God is relational, we need relationships. We are born into relationship, with a
basic need for nurture, and also for love and acceptance. We want to feel that we are a significant
part of the lives of others. We were created to love and to be loved, and without this, we are
stilted. When we become lovers of self neither our needs, nor the needs of those around us are
met.
When we are lovers of self, we become infatuated with our needs, our wants, our desires, and our
will. We seek to fulfill ourselves in every conversation and situation. God created us with needs
that are ultimately fulfilled in Him, but He uses others as catalysts. In selfishness, we lose sight of
Him, and therefore we lose sight of others. In doing so, we walk in opposition to the humility and
love required to be a member and a mover of His kingdom. Let’s seek to be lovers of others.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask the Lord to show you how you have been a lover of self. How is this affecting your love
for certain people? Take time to confess.
2. How can you become more of a lover of God? Take some time to meditate on His word
today, especially some of the Psalms. Ask God to expand your picture of Him.
3. Is there a relationship in your life that God wants to restore through selflessness? Lay your
pride down before the Lord and ask Him to show you specific acts of selflessness that you
need to do in order to restore the relationship.
