Let me start with a good question: 'How is Life currently treating you?'.
Maybe my question is not clear enough, and I should probably rephrase it this way: 'How did you treat yourself these past days?'
Have you ever been in several encounters where people constantly and wishfully tell you: ' Look after yourself ...' ?
If yes, those wishes and friendly recommendations could be taken as messages sent by God to alert you or warn you of the dangerous conditions you are living in.
The concept of ORDER is crucial to a well balanced life. The word 'Order' on its own could be the subject of many academic or scientific disciplines. I could write books on it and never finish talk about it. Several philosophical concepts and theories influencing our lives are inspired from the concept 'Order'.
We need 'Order' in our families, societies, economies, in our churches as well. The complete opposite of 'Order' could be simply labelled 'Disorder' or 'Anarchy'. Those living in war thorn countries filled with political disorder really understand the effects of 'Anarchy' and its negative toll on the economy and their private lives.
I consider 'Order' as a divine concept created by God from the beginning of time. Let's give a close look to the book of Genesis...By reading the first chapters of the Creation, one can not ignore the presence of 'Order'. Check this:
-God first created the Light and the Night : The beginning of Time (Day and Night)
-Then He creates an environment (grass, trees, the fresh air...) in which moving organisms will be able to live.
-After He finishes everything, He creates Man.
A logical reasoning would conclude that The Man had to be created in a ready environment for him to live comfortably. An anarchic reasoning would have created Man first before the Light, before the night, before the oxygen, before the grass, before the animals....and such anarchic creation could have killed 'Man'.
And more amazingly, God brought the most beautiful Creation : 'The Woman' after He created Man. A poetic and philosophical conclusion would read this:
'God made the Light, the oxygen, the Night first,
in order to keep the Green environment safe,
which in turn enhances the Life of all Animals,
which in turn strengthen the Man',
who in turn maintains Life continuity through
the Love and Care He gives to the Woman, the most beautiful Creation.'
It's all about order which I consider as one of the keys to activate Life sustainability in Kingdoms, Democracies, families, businesses, workplaces, and even Churches. Order brings prosperity,Life, common sense. It activates the Law of attraction as well.
If you read the New Testament, you will find scriptures where Jesus starts with :'In the beginning...'
As if Jesus constantly wanted to remind us of the Order of things in Life.
Enough introduction on the concept...
Let's talk about Order in your own private Life: ' What level of importance do you give to Your Life?'
I am not trying to stir selfishness feelings, rather, I am attempting to highlight some facts.
Some people have thrown their Lives at the bottom end of everything. As a result, they work so hard to the point of neglecting themselves, their relationships, their families or basic needs. It is so absurd!
I have met:
-hard working executives who neglected their physical appearances,
-Sportsmen who were so passionate about playing to the extent of becoming restless ( that's very dangerous),
-People who used their career dedication to justify their private life sacrifices such as : 'not getting married, not being involved in a relationship, sleeplessness...( it is absurd as well..)
The remedy to such problems is found in the level of importance or value you attribute to things. Ask yourself this question: ' Is your job much more important than your family who needs your attention?'
Here is my personal quote on Life Order:
GOD comes first,
THEN YOURSELF (+ your family),
And thirdly your Purpose ( job, ministry, work...).
Are you surprised? I will prove you that I am right: ' God Himself is a Jealous God and refuses any competition by stating : 'You shall not have other gods' ( Exodus 34:14). I am here to tell you that anything that comes between you and Him in importance such as career, money, success, fame, hobbies even the ministry ,to the point of damaging your own mental and physical health, is competing against God.
OPEN YOUR EYES ! Life will pass you by and the things that matter the most will depart from you, seeking attention elsewhere!
There is no such verse in the Bible stating that Jesus came to die for your success, the ministry, a building, a job....Jesus died for human lives. The fame, success, the job are just a result or fruits of LIFE. Even more astonishing, Jesus said that He would give His Life, and Take it back again (John 10:18). In other, Just see for yourself how Jesus, thought for Himself while fulfilling his purpose. He wasn't stupid! He laid His Life as a sacrifice and TOOK IT BACK! Can you learn from it?
Even God knew the He would take His Son ,Jesus, back from the Dead, when He gave Him as a sacrifice. And some people are trying to be more heroic than God by destroying their physical, mental and social health through some silly dedication towards some activities.
Can you think like Jesus?
Can you take authority and bring more order in your Life? Can you Bring more self care in your life and in what matters most?
Look After Yourself.
Maurice.