How do you love yourself?

Jan 9

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1

Today I want to focus on the above gift you can give or present to God - your body. Though God puts this last (spirit - soul - body), I believe the world puts it first. Whatever your order, every area matters and will affect one another at some point, just like taking care of your body is spiritual worship. If you don’t pay attention to your physical body, you won’t last long to offer praise on the earth.

The Bible says that husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. The Bible also says to love your neighbor as yourself. It begs the question, how do you love yourself? Is it by shopping or going to the gym? Is it watching tv or outside activities? Is it eating healthy or comfort? Is it drinking, drugs, and vaping or music, yoga, and hiking? Whether you choose stupor or sober, it affects those you love.

I read someone say that the determining factor of choice is often what one perceives as increasing joy and decreasing pain. Though I believe that to be largely true, herein lies the problem. Juxtapose that thought with the following scripture:

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. - 1 Peter 4:1 NIV

I think it’s important to note that there’s going to be a sacrifice or cost, but that the reward is going to be even better or weightier. Only God can show you how to do both: to crucify the bad and care for or nurture the good. The Bible says to “shun youthful lusts” or I could say that part of you that gives way to all your physical impulses. Maturity is a choice for long term good over immediate gratification. My husband said that when you’re young, your body carries you through a lot, but when you’re old, it’s your spirit and soul that carries or is the strength of your body. That’s wisdom.