Take Care of Yourself

The title for my lesson today is “Take Care of Yourself.” I chose this because this is one of the important things that a good counselor will tell those who come to them. 

The Scripture for today is Exodus 20:8-10. 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.”

You might look at this verse and ask what this verse has to do with taking care of yourself. The answer is simple. In Mark 2:27 Jesus explained, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” 

God gave us the seventh day of rest because he knew we needed it. It was not because God wanted to make another rule for us to break or a day to keep us from fishing or working. Keeping the Sabbath was God’s way of saying “Take care of yourself.”

I read a couple of quotes that are spot on about this subject.

1. “Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” – Katie Reed

2”. “Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first, it means me too.” – L.R. Knost

By taking care of yourself you be able to help your loved ones, family, friends, and the stranger you may meet. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40. Take care of yourself because you can’t serve others if you have nothing left to give.

The next time you talk to someone, as you leave, say one parting line: “Take care of yourself.” They probably won’t understand the depth of the comment, but you will.

Lonnie Davis