DOES GOD WANT US TO SELF-SACRIFICE
TO THE POINT OF SUFFERING OR DOING HARM TO OURSELVES?
It appears that it is not at all true that God wants us to self-sacrifice to the point of suffering and/or doing harm to ourselves in order to be a good and faithful servant to others. Those who have come to that belief appear not to have done it based upon what is written, nor upon adequate reflection and questioning and thinking and deciding what is right and good, truly. To the contrary, God would want us to prosper and do well in life.
(If you have evidence otherwise, please do provide it.)
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WHAT WOULD GOD WANT FOR HIS CHILDREN?
What would a wise and just God who loves each one of his "children" want us to do for ourselves, besides doing for others? Wouldn't he want us to receive the blessings of life and to take care of our bodies ("the temples of our souls) and our "selves"?
Would he want us to suffer that others might not suffer? (Or was that something "man" inserted in the writings in an effort to exert more control over the people so that they would have a better working society where all were safer and better off?)
Why would God want to have any of his creatures suffer? Does he not love each one of them?
What does He say?
DID WE EXAGGERATE OR MISCONSTRUE?
As far as I can tell, the idea of being self-sacrificing to an extreme in order to be servants of others is something that people made up. Perhaps it was out of guilt or perhaps out of trying to be "worthy", but it appears to be a false construct that was made up but not actually so.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
Man should look to his own interests. AND he should be humble and give significance to others and act in their self interest, but no self-sacrifice or suffering is asked for.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13)
Well, that certainly makes sense. But it appears to be an observation of fact, not a request or a demand.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)
It seems to me that we are dedicating our earthly bodies to be used to follow what is holy and good (but there is no implication that we should die to do that). A little unclear, but it does not seem to say to kill oneself.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (John 12:25 )
Doesn't this say that if you make yourself miserable, through self-sacrifice and/or suffering, that you will be stuck in that for all time? I can't clearly say what the first part of the sentence says... "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it," Matthew 10:39. Surely, 'tis good to "lose oneself" without self concern and to freely give without fear, but to be stuck in concern and suffering of self may be pure hell.
AND, THEN, GOD STOPPED SHORT
Yes, He did ask Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but He pulled out (via a messenger) before it happened. All of this was to test Abraham's faith, for some reason.
SO, DID GOD WANT US TO "SELF-SACRIFICE" AND SUFFER AT ALL?
I cannot find any evidence that God wanted a man to go so far in benefiting others that he must himself suffer.
If you even have quotes from sources saying what God says, please do email me so I can add those to this conversation.
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I couldn't even find in the Book Of Mormon any requests for self-sacrifice to the point of suffering.
Space for evidence otherwise is provided below, after the following section.
SHOULD YOU HAVE SELF LOVE, SELF CARE?
"Love your neighbor as yourself." That surely clearly implies that you "love yourself" and that it is just fine. Just give love (acceptance, kindness, help) to your neighbor, too.
Treat other people as well as we treat ourselves... Yes, it was addressed that one should not love himself too much, which meant you should not do it to the extent where it gets in the way of loving others.
Even the Buddha tried that, and then he decided that the best way was "the middle way", which essentially is a harmoniously balanced way of living, not too much of this, not too much of that, but a sought after best combination of them, that we might live and enjoy better lives.
SPACE FOR EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY: