Learn to take care of yourself (1)

Memory Verse: Matthew 26:7 "A woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table."

The Word for Today devotional by United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) says:

Jesus allowed others to minister to Him. Do you?

‘A woman … having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil … poured it on His head … But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?” … when Jesus was aware of it, He said … “She has done a good work”’ (vv. 7-10 NKJV).

There’s an important lesson in this story. You must allow the care you pour on others, to be poured on you. Otherwise you’ll burn out. Jesus practised this principle. So did the psalmist: ‘You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over’ (Psalm 23:5 NKJV).

In order for your cup of service to stay full, it must continually be refilled. And since people generally treat you according to how you treat yourself, you must learn to treat yourself right. It’s a good thing to take care of others, but sometimes we hide behind that in order to avoid having to take care of ourselves - or because we don’t know how.

READ: There’s so Substitute!

The question is: How can we fulfil Christ’s command to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mark 12:31 NIVUK 2011 Edition), if we haven’t learned how to love ourselves? Many of us become resentful of the demands people dump on us each day without ever seeming to give anything back in return. When the world you live in makes endless withdrawals, you must learn to make deposits; otherwise you’ll end up with insufficient funds. And pretty soon those cheques will start bouncing everywhere - morally, emotionally, and spiritually. Who’ll give back to you - if not you?

So today pray: ‘Lord, give me the grace to allow the oil I pour on others, to be poured on me’.