I see and hear a lot of things about self-care. It is either applauded or derided. One article states, “…self-care has been both highly overvalued and undervalued in American society.”

On the one hand, it has been undervalued. Especially in a smaller church, a few people wear many hats. Staff may not be given much time off. Both staff and volunteers are asked to do more. Then more. All in the name of sacrifice. I recall hearing a story where one senior pastor stated that the reason was to be an inspiration and model for his congregation to sacrifice.

On the other hand, it has also been overvalued to our detriment. There was one church where the some college and young adults were asked to help out with leading youth group; another time asked to help with a youth retreat. Almost all who were asked said no, citing “self-care”. They equated “self-care” with “I don’t want to be uncomfortable”, and “I don’t want to stretch myself”.

An extremely popular Christian site calls it unbiblical and ridicules the idea of self-care in a mocking and derisive manner. It seems uncharitable to me, but that’s another topic…

Yes, there are times we need to push ourselves. There are times when we need press on in the midst of hardship and difficulty – and it’s definitely not going to feel good. There are times when we need self-discipline – and it’s going to hurt. However, I believe self-care is important and it needs to be understood with a Biblical worldview and with nuance.

1st, we are stewards of all that God has given us. We are to take care of everything entrusted to us by the Lord. We often cite 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price“) as the rationale that we are to take care of them – exercise, eating right, etc.

We also cite Romans 12:2 (Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind), as an argument for the transformation and cultivation of our minds. So why do we exclude and bifurcate our hearts/emotions from our bodies and minds?

Additionally Matthew 22:37-39 says “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” There is some element of self-care here: If we are to love God with our whole being (heart, soul and mind), then we need to take care of ourselves to be able to love the Lord the best we can.

We are naturally self-inflating and prone to love ourselves, there needs to be balance. As stewards of our bodies, minds, and hearts, as those who are made in the image of God, we are to take care of what God has entrusted to us.

2nd, God cares about us. After the disciples come back from serving and preaching in Mark 6, verse 31 says, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”” Jesus cared for them. He wanted to them to rest after their busyness, after they didn’t even have a chance to eat.

If God cares for us, we should care about ourselves.

Again, be balanced and nuanced. Sometimes, we care about ourselves too much. Maybe we don’t fast because we don’t want to be “unhealthy”. Maybe we don’t give or serve because it’s “too stressful”. We have to make sure we’re not making excuses not to grow.

3rd, by taking care of ourselves, we can better care for others. Book after book for pastors usually talk about finding your own time to rest so that you can better serve others.

We are to care for others because care is love, care is essential to our God-given calling as humans and as Christians. Yet we cannot adequately care for others unless we care for ourselves. We rest and read and retreat so we can care more and better. We build habits and patterns that make us more faithful servants. We sometimes put ourselves ahead of others in our schedules so we can put others ahead of ourselves in our lives. Self-care is a necessary means of protecting and furthering our others-care.

-Tim Challies

I recall an illustration from many years ago that we are like lifeguards. If you cannot swim yourself, there is no way you will be able to help others. In the same way, if we can care for ourselves, we can better care for others.

Friends, let us swim in the grace of God. Let us be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, so that we may grow both ourselves and others.