A wise Theologian once said, "We have to come to the end of ourselves." How true!

The subject of self-care is somewhat of a complicated one for believers and is readily misunderstood. We must care for ourselves through nourishment, hydration, sleep, hygiene, clothing and shelter but notwithstanding, those basic needs in which we all must attend, self-care doesn’t need to and should not encompass every aspect of daily life. But even in those everyday things; the mundane, He supplies what we need and we are afforded the privilege of relying on Him for those things, see Matthew 6:25-34. Furthermore, we are to do everything with Him and through Him, John 15:5-6. Therefore, even in these things, we can and should rely on HIM!

Self care, however, can sometimes overshadow God's Role in our lives. For instance, when it comes to making choices and everyday decisions, we can allow the Holy Spirit indwelling to guide us into the best course of action. Everyone strives to avoid making mistakes as much as possible and when we seek the Lord and His Counsel, we are getting THE correct answer to our question; He will not lead us astray. The fact is, God can take far better care of us than we can ever do ourselves, but only if we let Him:

"But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

We tend to use the excuse of self care when it comes to things that actually belong to God; things that we ought to be relying on God for: pretty; we really ought to let God be God in our lives:

 "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.” (1Corinthians 7:23-24)

When it comes to the subject of self-care, the popular expression that comes to mind is “the Lord helps those who help themselves.” Well, yes that’s definite and factual as the day is long, BUT, it only applies to our doing our part; it should not be overemphasized and taken to the extreme, where we try to do everything ourselves and leave God out of the equation. Not only should He be involved; He should be functioning as KING and at the headquarters of all the goings-on of our lives.

For example, Jesus said He is the Vine and we are the branches; we can do nothing without Him in John 15:5-6. This verse is quite plainly saying that we should not be taking care of everything in our lives, that leaves Him out and He is supposed to be our KING, our leader in everything.

It’s really both that complicated and that simple, as in caring for our bodies it's easy to unwittingly get lost in the self. Self care can readily spill over into vanity.

If we are not careful, we may one day find that taking self care to the extreme leads us down a road of distraction. This countenance takes us down a path that is not in His Will for us and these works of the flesh only spark a deeper sinking into the delusion of self-importance and further distorts our focus and priorities.

For the secular world, works of the flesh are known as accomplishments, efforts, acts of self-improvements, independence, autonomy: all concepts the secular world gravitates to. According to the world, even failures are embraced because they are a part of learning. Actually that last part does align with Christian thinking, but is counted as nothing before the Lord, as the intentions were not for Him and His Glory, but for our glory and without His Leading.

Living a life obsessed with self-care is equivalent to living a life of pride. If Christ is left out, it’s all about that all-important ego boost. Good works that are done for our own glory? Once again, not pleasing to our Lord, Who does Command to come first in our lives:

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 30:30-31)

 Furthermore, it seems the notion of self-care is even more prevalent and extreme for current younger generation than for previous younger generations. But, the truth is they are wasting their energy because no amount of effort and attention given to the body could ever fulfill them the way they think it will. And they will end feeling even more empty inside. It’s only when we decrease and God increases in our lives that we can fully become the person we were meant to become.

When we give ourselves over to the control of God’s Spirit, we begin to grasp His Superior Ways enough to know that unless we abide in Him, we can do nothing; we are remain helpless, deluded sinners.

The bottom line is we cannot fill ourselves up with ourselves, it just simply cannot and does not work. It only leads to a deeper sense of loneliness, dissatisfaction, frustration and depression. (I remember those days well….) The way God designed us: meant to be more satisfied with giving than receiving, satisfied with reaching outward, as opposed to turning inward; to love and to serve, is the only way we can reach that sense of satisfaction, in which we all yearn…..

Modern-day spiritual gurus will tell their followers that they need to be their ‘authentic self,’ but unless that authenticity follows becoming a new creature in Christ, it will be based in self-centered, natural human propensities, which are fundamentally concerned with self-promotion and gain. They also teach to put ourselves first; we matter more than anyone else. One of them actually said that if we sacrifice ourselves for someone else that means that person is stealing from us! The truth is when we do things without God, we are stealing from Him, because everything belongs to Him. It would seem that their followers must end up feeling unsatisfied, but don’t know where else to turn, so they continue following their lies.

Moreover, this convoluted perspective can result from teachings that twist Scripture, as well as other sources of misinterpretation.  

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

“ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17)

The world is wrapped up in personal autonomy; everyone focused on making their dreams come true or living the American dream; all without even so much as considering what God has to say about what they should do or being in Christ, as they ought to be, But Christians were called to seek and rely on the LORD.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

NKJV