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Taking Care of Yourself – Part 2

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20

There are two kinds of people who won't understand your need to take care of yourself: religious legalists who never stop trying to measure up to certain moral, ethical and religious standards, and serve-a-holics who sacrifice self and family on the altar of endless church activity believing that's the only way to please God. Clearly some of Jesus' disciples felt that way. When a woman poured expensive oil on Jesus they were upset. How come? Had they never read, 'He maketh me to lie down...leadeth me beside the still waters ...restoreth my soul...anointest my head with oil...' (Psalm 23:2,3&5)? In Bible times oil was used to soothe, massage and refresh, especially after a hard day or a long journey in the hot sun. 'So God thinks it's okay to take a break?' Absolutely! But serve-a-holics who need to be needed keep thinking: 'This oil might have been sold and given to the poor.' Their belief system is, 'others matter - I don't!'

Understand this: when you take care of others but not yourself, you a) become spiritually and emotionally drained b) become resentful because your needs go unrecognized and unmet c) end up looking for oil in all the wrong places. That's what drove Samson to Delilah's house. She gave him a place to relax and let down his hair, and then exploited it for his destruction. When we look to others to pour the oil on us rather than learning to pour it ourselves, we end up giving a foothold to the enemy. Don't let that happen to you! Start taking better care of yourself spiritually, physically and emotionally!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me understand that my life and my body belong to you and I need to keep what is yours in good shape! In Your Precious Name, Amen