What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Do I have to love myself in order to love others?"
Answer
The biblical principle “Love your neighbor as yourself” presupposes that we place God first, so that the self can be fulfilled in Christ. True love for others does not arise from self‑love, but becomes possible only when God takes His rightful place on the throne of the heart and we, through self‑less service, become partakers of the divine nature. It is less about actively loving oneself and more about setting aside personal interest for the welfare of others and allowing Christ to fill us with divine love.
God as the Source of Love for the Neighbor
»The first four of the Ten Commandments are summed up in one great command: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.’ The last six are contained in the other: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Both commandments express the principle of love. The first cannot be kept while the second is broken, nor can the second be kept while the first is broken. When God has His rightful place on the throne of the heart, the neighbor will be assigned the proper place. We will love him as ourselves. And only when we love God above all can we love our neighbor impartially.«
Selflessness as the Basis of True Love
»We do not need to begin by trying to love one another. The love of Christ in the heart is what is needed. When the self is lost in Christ, true love arises spontaneously.«
The Danger of Selfishness
»Cornelia, you have a great lesson to learn. To deny the self and cease being concerned for oneself; love yourself less and love the Lord and His cause with a self‑less love. She has not practiced the second commandment in her life. The second commandment is equal to it, namely: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ She will have to work according to a different principle, or she will never hear the Master say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’«
The Blessing of Self‑less Service
»The second commandment is equal to the first – ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The law of love demands the dedication of body, mind, and soul to the service of God and our fellow humans. And this service brings us, while making us a blessing to others, the greatest blessing for ourselves. Self‑lessness underlies every true development. Through self‑less service we receive the highest formation of every ability. More and more we become partakers of the divine nature. We are made fit for heaven, for we receive heaven into our hearts.«
True Measure of Neighborly Love
»The first great commandment is: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.’ ‘And the second is like it, namely this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ These two commandments encompass the entire interest and duty of moral beings. Those who fulfill their duty toward others as they would wish others to fulfill toward them will be placed in a position where God can reveal Himself to them. They will be recognized by Him. They will be made perfect in love, and their efforts and prayers will not be in vain.«
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Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
