Articles
Take Care of Yourself
The apostle Paul made the statement when teaching about Christ and the church in Ephesians 5 that “no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it.
Barring cases of psychological illness, this is a universally recognized truth. We may easily observe that people look after their needs. When we are hungry, we will stop everything we are doing in order to eat. The same goes for when we are tired; we seek rest. When in pain, we seek to allevi-ate that pain. Immediately the brain begins to work, even on a chemical and subcon-scious level, to attend to this distressing sensation which urgently demands atten-tion. In a general preventative way, we care for ourselves by exercising, trying to make good dietary choices, and getting enough sleep. On a societal level we have vilified smoking, waged war on obesity, re-duced sugar, restricted salt, etc... We’re serious about taking care of ourselves, or are we?
“No man ever hated his own flesh,” speaks to the predisposition in all men to look after their own interests, but the decision
to live in sin reveals just how truly “against nature” it is for a man to choose sin. It is the antitheses of nourishing and cherishing the flesh.
Scripture often makes this point:
In Proverbs 20:2 the Bible teaches: “The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.” Of course, all sin is against God, but the Holy Spirit also wants us to see that we can sin against our own lives as well. Consider some of the ways that we can do this: Proverbs 29:24 says, “Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life.” This is why when sinners entice us to join them, to thrown in our lot with them, to “be of one purse” (which has a strong appeal to one’s sense of belonging) those who love life wil run the other way!
Similarly, Proverbs 11:17b says, “...he who is cruel troubles his own flesh (11:17b).” The recurring appeal from Scripture is that we consider our own well-being when we choose our behavior. He who treats others without mercy is borrowing trouble for himself from the future.
Likewise, Proverbs 6:30-32 says, “People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving (there’s that nour-ishing the flesh again—R.O.). Yet, when he is found, he must re-store sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house. Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks under-standing; He who does so destroys his own soul.” Solomon seeks to show how egregious adultery is by showing the compounded consequence in contrast with the plight of the thief who also must pay no small price. But, by comparison, “...he who does so
destroys his own soul.” Think of it! As Jesus famously asked, what will a man give in exchange for his soul (Mt. 16:26)? Listen well, dear reader! “Pay attention to the words of my mouth: Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death.” (Prov. 7:24-27)
Scripture also provides a healthful alternative for those who want to love life and see good days—for those who truly love them-selves, if you know what I mean. In Proverbs 11:17a, Solomon taught: “The merciful man does good for his own soul.” Doesn’t that describe well how we ought to live? Live in such a way that our souls will thank us later, at the judgment. What if everything we did were measured by what our future selves would say?
Solomon frequently extends this blessed option to his reader, juxta-posing lady wisdom who offers “health to your flesh, and strength to your bones” (3:8), with the evil woman who brings wounds and dishonor (6:33). Lady wisdom clears her throat in 8:12 and says, “I, wisdom...love those who love me, and those who seek me will dili-gently find me (8:17). She really is the obvious choice; she wants to be found, and is ready to bless those who care for themselves.
It is at this point that the sinner has a decision to make—Am I going to continue to destroy myself, or will I seek a consistent way of liv-ing which reflects the cherishing love, care, and nourishment with which I have always treated myself? No man ever hated his own flesh.
