Self Care: What’s the Purpose

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Happy Monday my friends! It’s time for a new Monday Musings of Grace! Today I am concluding a three part series on self care activities from a Biblical Perspective.

If you missed the first two posts in the series, make sure to check them out below.

• Part 1: Introduction
• Part 2: What Does the Bible Say

Recap

So far in this series we’ve reviewed some of the cultural perspectives on self care, laid the foundation for self care, and studied some verses from Jesus’ life as He gave us examples of self care. Today, I want to conclude the series by talking about why we should ask for help, and what is the purpose of self care.

Asking for Help

Are you the kind of person who can “do it all”? I know I often fall into that category. Unfortunately, not asking for help is one of the main downfalls of people who aren’t tending to themselves. It is so easy to overextend ourselves and fall into the rabbit hole of busyness. Let’s take a look at how Jesus handled this type of situation.

Jesus’ actions in Matthew 9 are the perfect example of not trying to do it alone. Jesus is God! And yet He had the wisdom to be intentional in prayer to ask God to provide help. It is refreshing to read that even the creator of the universe was wise to seek help when it’s needed.

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Matthew 9:36-38

I look at this passage and can’t help but marvel at His wisdom. Jesus could have met the needs of every person in that crowd instantly. However, in His humanity He saw the need long term to pray for people to come alongside His disciples for the betterment of His followers. And that leads me to my final point.

What’s the Point of Self Care?

This may or may not be a surprise to you, but the Bible tells us that self care isn’t only about us. I think that Matthew 23 sums it up nicely.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Matthew 23:25-26

If you aren’t sure who Jesus is talking to, the Pharisees were the spiritual teachers of His time. They were supposed to be the “Godly” ones to lead the Jews. However Jesus strips away their outward appearances and looks instead at the heart.

He tells them to first take care of themselves, clean the inside of the cup, because without their own personal care they are leading others astray. This is the Biblical view of self care. We care for ourselves, intentionally seeking to follow Christ first and foremost, so that we can care for others.

And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:37-39

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Most people read this verse and conclude that our goal is to love our neighbor. Rightly so! But how are we supposed to love them? As ourselves. Without self care and self love, how can we fulfill God’s second commandment?

We cannot serve others without filling our own life with God’s restorative rest, Biblical wisdom, and cleanliness of heart. Self care from a Biblical perspective has everything to do with a daily connection to God through prayer and Bible reading. These self care activities are the most important to provide us with focus, perspective, and wisdom as we strive to honor God through our actions and service to others.

I know, personally, that I am most fulfilled when I am intentionally seeking God by ensuring that I get time for solitude and rest to commune with Him.

How Will You View Self Care?

We’ve come this far and I bet you’re wondering when I’m going to talk about exercising daily and eating healthy. Or perhaps you were hoping I’d share on how to make more hours available in a day? 😉 I get it my friends. Those are all things I’d love to accomplish as well.

However, for this topic I wanted to focus solely on what the Bible says. And surprise! It doesn’t say we need to weigh a certain amount or look a certain way. Or even accomplish x, y and z in a day. But it does say that we should be seeking His kingdom first, so that’s what I hope I’ve conveyed to you in this series!

I hope that if you started this mini series with me, and took my challenge to read Matthew in its entirety, that you’ve been blessed with your own personal revelations that God brings through His Word! I know that 2019 will look differently for me and my view of self care as I press on seeking daily connection to God and restoration for my soul.