Skip to main content

Caring


       Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children  and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

          This morning I saw a meme that dealt with the idea that it’s OK to take care of yourself even if it inconveniences or displeases someone else. In other words, it’s OK to not be codependent. It’s hard to disagree with that. If you’ve ever flown on a plane, one of the instructions you’re given is that if the oxygen masks deploy, you’re to put one on yourself before trying to help your children. Those training as first responders are taught that they don’t endanger themselves.  If you don’t take care of yourself, how are you going to take care of anyone else? It all makes perfect sense.
           But I think we need to be careful with this sort of advice, because if we’re not careful, doing this may lead us to the wrong destination, because it’s not the direction Jesus went, and we’re to imitate Him. Jesus didn’t worry about taking care of Himself. He trusted the Father to take care of Him.
           Granted, I think Jesus had a far better idea of what His purpose was than we tend to. Fasting for forty days was a means of achieving His goals. There are some folks who say that it is by denying oneself that one gains strength. By caring for others, on other words, one cares for oneself. 
           Part of the key here is having one’s priorities straight. I recall hearing or reading a story about Queen Victoria and Sir Walter Raleigh (maybe.) She told him to go somewhere to do something for her. He complained that he had business to take care of in England, and she told him “You take care of the business I give you, and I shall take care of your business for you.” I can’t swear the story is true, but it echoes the “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
          Jesus was able to focus on the needs of others, and on the task set before Him because He believed that God would take care of Him. How often to we get caught up on urgent, in-our-face matters that distract us from what is truly important.
           Lord, grant me the courage and the faith to trust You to take care of me, so that I can take care of those people, and those things, that You have give into my care.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Meditations of the Heart

  May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm19:14)           As I started writing this post, I noted that the meditations of my heart are all over the mental landscape, from a hub where eight superhighways come together to a lunar or nuclear landscape. Do you see my error? The moment I read the word meditation , I think about thoughts. But what’s described here is the meditations of our hearts ; our wills.           While the meditations of our minds may be all over the place, the meditations of our wills tend to be a little more stable by the time we are adults. We no longer tend to want to pursue the ten separate careers we did in any given day as children. Part of this is humble acceptance of reality. We come to understand that we can’t do it all. I think another part of it is disappointmen...
Post a Comment
Read more