The Insanity of Self-Care: Embracing the Joy of Serving Others

The Insanity of Self-Care: Why Christians Should Care for Others

Self-care has become a buzzword in our culture. The internet is full of articles and social media posts promoting the idea that we need to take care of ourselves first in order to be able to take care of others. But is self-care really the answer to our problems?

As Christians, we are called to love and serve others. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34 ESV). He didn’t say, “Love yourself first and then love others.” In fact, the Bible encourages us to put others before ourselves. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “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.”

The Problem with Self-Care

The problem with self-care is that it is often focused on self-indulgence rather than self-improvement. It encourages us to prioritize our own wants and desires over the needs of others. It tells us that we need to pamper ourselves, indulge in our favorite foods, and spend money on ourselves in order to be happy.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with taking care of ourselves, the problem arises when we make it the focus of our lives. When we are constantly seeking to please ourselves, we become selfish and self-centered. We lose sight of the needs of others and become blind to the suffering around us.

What the Bible Says about Caring for Others

The Bible is clear that we are called to love and serve others. In fact, Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). He also said that whatever we do to the least of these, we do to him (Matthew 25:40).

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of people who put others before themselves. Abraham welcomed strangers into his home and offered them food and shelter (Genesis 18:1-8). Ruth cared for her mother-in-law Naomi and went to great lengths to provide for her (Ruth 1-4). Jesus himself washed his disciples’ feet, a task that was reserved for the lowliest of servants (John 13:1-17).

We are called to follow these examples and to love and serve others. This means putting their needs before our own and sacrificing our own desires for their sake. It means giving of our time, talents, and resources to help those in need.

The Insanity of Self-Care

The idea of self-care is not only unbiblical, but it is also insane. We cannot find true happiness and fulfillment by focusing on ourselves. The more we try to please ourselves, the more dissatisfied we become. We are left feeling empty and unfulfilled.

On the other hand, when we focus on serving others, we find true joy and contentment. We experience the joy of making a difference in someone else’s life. We find purpose and meaning in serving others.

The insanity of self-care is that it leads us down a path of self-destruction. It encourages us to focus on our own desires and pleasures, which ultimately leads to dissatisfaction and emptiness. But when we focus on serving others, we find true happiness and fulfillment.

The Importance of Rest

While we are called to love and serve others, we also need to take care of ourselves. This means getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. However, the purpose of these things is not to indulge ourselves, but to enable us to better serve others.

Jesus himself recognized the importance of rest. He often withdrew to a quiet place to pray and recharge (Mark 1:35). However, his purpose in resting was not to indulge himself, but to spend time with his Father and prepare for his ministry.

Conclusion

Self-care is not the answer to our problems. As Christians, we are called to love and serve others, putting their needs before our own. This means sacrificing our own desires for their sake and giving of our time, talents, and resources to help those in need.

While we do need to take care of ourselves, the purpose of self-care is not to indulge ourselves, but to enable us to better serve others. We need to recognize the importance of rest and recharge, but we should do so with the purpose of preparing ourselves for ministry.

Let us reject the insanity of self-care and embrace the joy and fulfillment that comes from serving others.