The notion of self-care has been on the rise over the last few years, especially during and post-pandemic. People have begun to consciously make an effort toward their overall well-being. 

Yet, many Christians have been on the fence about ‘self-care’, misunderstanding it as a form of vanity.

The Bible indeed warns against being vain and emphasizing the wrong things (Matthew 6:19-21). However, caring for ourselves does not go against Biblical principles.

On the contrary, it is entirely possible to honor God through self-care. Thus, we must understand how to practice self-care while avoiding the trap of vanity.

A Biblical Understanding of Self-Care

The world and culture usually have their views and standards of living. Often, these go against Christian principles. Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to the world’s pattern. 

It is then wise to consult the Word to know if something is Biblical and how to approach it from a Biblical standpoint. 

This also applies to how we care for ourselves.

What is Self-Care?

Self-care is a set of practices geared toward preserving physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Being intentional about caring for yourself is crucial for lasting health. It helps regenerate your being. It relieves it from daily stress and pressures and prevents burnout.

Self-care is a journey tailored to individual needs or wants.

Some general self-care practices include eating a healthy and balanced diet, exercising regularly, taking time to wind down and decompress, spending time on hobbies, etc.

What Does the Bible Say About Self-Care?

The Bible does not specifically address the notion of self-care, as it does love or forgiveness. But it offers guidance on how to care for our well-being as Christians.

Many have said that the Bible is God’s love letter to humanity. In that sense, every instruction in the Bible is for our overall welfare. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says that we are God’s temple, and He dwells in us. Although this passage was about sexual conduct, in light of the whole Bible we can see that it is important to care for, guard, and preserve our bodies as God’s residence. 

The Word of God is littered with verses that encourage us to care for ourselves:

• Proverbs 4:23: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
• Luke 10:27b: Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Mark 6:31b: Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.
• Matthew 11:28-30: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
• 3 John 1:2: Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
• Proverbs 17:22: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
• 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
• Ephesians 5:29: For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.

God is love and He loves us. He desires to see us ‘succeed and prosper and be in good health’ (3 John 1:2). But we must acknowledge Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:6).

How to Practice God-Honoring Self-Care?

A Christian life is marked by surrender and worship. All we do must reflect honor to the Father in some capacity.

Thus, Christian self-care is not solely about the ‘self’, but about love, care, and honor to God. Here are some Biblical truths to keep in mind:

1. We are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
2. We are valuable in God’s eyes (Isaiah 43:4).
3. God loves us and cares about us (John 3:16).
4. We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
5. God dwells and inhabits us (John 14:7).

Because God loves and values us, so must we. Christian self-care aims to help us live out our God-given purpose more effectively and serve others with love and strength. 

Our self-care is an act of gratitude to God, an appreciation for His creation, and a reverence for His desire to see us thrive.

Self-Care That Glorifies God

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)”. This verse instructs us to give God glory in all we do.

In essence, we must consider God in everything, big or small. And that includes our self-care.

The Right Heart Posture

What does it mean to give glory to God?

Jesus tells us to ‘’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37).

Glorifying God is the calling of every believer. It is a heart posture that recognizes God as our Maker and Lord. 

When we walk in reverence before God, we cultivate a posture of worship, humility, and gratitude.

Through our self-care, we worship God by acknowledging Him as our Creator. We give Him glory, for He has fearfully and wonderfully made us.

Our self-care means we love and care for what God has made.

In humility, we recognize God’s favor in granting us life and the opportunity and resources to care for our well-being. We understand that we are valuable to Him (Matthew 10:29-31) but not more important than others.

Caring for ourselves shows Him we are grateful for the body, mind, and soul He has given us. Because He chooses to make us His dwelling, we choose to care for said dwelling.

Holistic and Biblical Self-Care Practices

Cultivating a heart posture that glorifies God shapes how we care for our well-being. It keeps us grounded and focused on what truly matters.

As Christians, our self-care practices should include our whole being: mind, body, and soul. It is not about aesthetics, trends, or brands.

It is nurturing ourselves in a way that honors our Father in Heaven:

1. Physical Self-Care: Nurture the body through a healthy, balanced diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Drink enough water. Get enough sleep. Stay active. Practice good hygiene. Have a healthy skin and body care routine. Schedule regular medical check-ups. Prioritize rest and take breaks from work, whether it’s through sleep, relaxation, or spending time in worship. This allows your body and spirit to rejuvenate and connect with God.
2. Emotional and Mental Self-Care: Nurture the mind by disconnecting from time to time: from people, electronic devices, social media, etc. Limit your intake of negative media. Take regular breaks from screens. Spend time in nature and ponder God’s marvelous work. Practice daily gratitude and thank God for His provisions. Let go of grudges and practice forgiveness. Journal your thoughts, prayers, and blessings. Go to therapy to heal emotional and mental wounds. Be part of a Christian community. Invest time in relationships that nurture you.
3. Spiritual Self-Care: Nurture the soul by prioritizing spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading and prayer. Take part in Bible Study. Read sound and scriptural-based books. Spend time in worship and praise. Meditate on God’s Word day and night (Joshua 1:8). Live out God’s Word through your relationships with others. Incorporate fasting into your spiritual routine. Spend intentional moments in silence, away from distractions, to listen and be still before God. Seek to serve others: in your church, community, or through acts of kindness to those around you.

Incorporating holistic and biblical self-care practices ensures that we care for all aspects of our being while staying grounded in God’s teachings.

The Fine Line Between Self-Care and Vanity

Taking care of our well-being is a beautiful thing. Done well, it brings glory and honor to our Heavenly Father.

However, if we are not careful, we can fall into the trap of vanity. The distinguishing factor between healthy self-care and vanity lies in the intention, or the heart posture. 

Healthy self-care focuses on overall well-being, while vanity focuses on appearances and external validation. Healthy self-care honors God; vanity honors man. Godly, Christian self-care leads to serving others well, whereas vanity seeks only to please the ‘self’.

It can be easy for one to cross the line and fall into vanity:

• Overemphasis on physical appearance instead of focusing on health.
• Overworking to maintain a certain image as opposed to working hard to achieve goals
• Obsessing over fashion and material possessions rather than simply dressing well to feel confident.
• Neglecting inner and spiritual growth and focusing only on outward self-improvement.
• Flaunting success or accomplishments instead of practicing gratitude and uplifting others.
• Becoming obsessed with perfection, where nothing is ever good enough unless it’s flawless.

A vain person no longer ‘cares’ for themselves out of love and honor for God. Instead, they seek others’ approval, attention, praise, or superiority.

The Danger of Vanity

“Vanity costs money, labor, horses, men, women, health and peace, and is still nothing at last, – a long way leading nowhere. – Ralph Waldo Emerson”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines vanity as an ‘inflated pride in oneself or one’s appearance.’

It involves placing too much importance on outward appearances or superficial things, sometimes at the expense of deeper values or well-being.

Vanity is anti-Biblical. Christians are to guard themselves against vanity because it is dangerous and destroys.

Vanity, What Does the Bible Say?

Vanity is rooted in pride. Pride is the mindset and heart posture; vanity is the outward expression of that pride.

In many places, God speaks against the proud and the vain:

• Proverbs 21:4 – Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.
• Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
• James 4:6 – But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
• Proverbs 8:13 – To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
• 1 Samuel 16:7 – But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
• Galatians 5:26 – Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
• Psalm 2:2-4 – In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Essentially, vanity is sinful. It goes against God’s principle for us to walk in humility and cultivate an others-centered heart. 

Consequences of Vanity

One great consequence of vanity for a Christian is enmity with God. God says He hates the proud (Proverbs 16:5). Since vanity is a manifestation of pride, a vain person risks losing their relationship with The Lord.

Furthermore, vanity steals joy. When one becomes obsessed with themselves, there is never contentment, fulfillment, or satisfaction. Worse yet, they are unable to share in others’ joy, which the Bible instructs us to do (Romans 12:15).

Vanity makes you the center. Thus, you walk in disobedience to God’s Word. Philippians 2:3 says to ‘do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.’ Romans 12:16 also tells us to ‘Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.’

Additionally, when self-care shifts from a focus on true well-being to vanity, the outcomes often negatively impact one’s mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Here are some key consequences:

1. Emotional Instability and Insecurity: Instead of experiencing peace and contentment through healthy self-care, one may feel emotionally unstable, constantly seeking approval or feeling anxious about appearance and status.
2. Neglect of Deeper Needs: Vanity emphasizes superficial aspects like beauty, wealth, or reputation, causing deeper emotional, mental, or spiritual needs to be ignored. A person may feel empty, even if they achieve outward success or beauty because their inner well-being has been neglected.
3. Harm to Physical Health: Vanity in self-care can lead to extreme or unhealthy practices in pursuit of beauty or perfection, such as crash dieting, over-exercising, or cosmetic procedures done for approval rather than personal health. These behaviors can lead to physical harm, including eating disorders, injury, or long-term health problems.
4. Financial Strain: Vanity may lead to excessive spending on luxury items, beauty treatments, or status symbols that go beyond one’s financial means. This can lead to debt, financial stress, or poor money management, as well as a focus on materialism over true self-care, which emphasizes balance and sustainability.
5. Spiritual Disconnection: A person may feel distant from God, as vanity often prioritizes the self over faith, service, or purpose. This can lead to a lack of spiritual peace or fulfillment.

While true self-care promotes balance and long-term well-being, vanity focuses on superficial gains and external validation, often at the cost of personal happiness and health.

Guarding Against Vanity in Self-Care

Many Christians have neglected their well-being for fear of becoming vain.  However, neglecting ourselves is no better, as it suggests we don’t value ourselves the way God does.

The true balance lies in practicing self-care to honor and thank God. 

We must constantly check our motives and heart posture because pride can so easily corrupt a beautiful thing, such as caring for ourselves.

The antidote to pride is a humble heart. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to guard our hearts with diligence, for everything we do flows from it. 

To avoid vanity, keep Christ at the center of your practices. Remember, whether you eat or drink, do it all for His glory. 

We are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), we have been bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20), and our bodies are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19). 

These truths remind us that, as God’s, we cannot do whatever we want with our bodies, minds, and souls. Instead, we are to cherish, love, and care for them.

Here are some practical ways to guard against vanity in self-care:

1. Focus on Inner Beauty (1 Peter 3:3-4): Prioritize developing qualities like kindness, patience, humility, and godly character. While caring for your physical appearance is fine, ensure that your self-worth is rooted in how God sees you, not how the world does.
2. Practice Humility (Philippians 2:3): Approach self-care with humility, recognizing that your body is a gift from God, not something to be idolized or flaunted. Care for yourself to be a healthy vessel to serve others, not to seek admiration.
3. Set God-Centered Intentions (Colossians 3:23): Before or while doing any ‘self-care practices’, ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” Be honest with yourself. If you find that your motive is not rooted in love, humility, or gratitude, stop and repent. Ask God to give you a clean heart (Psalm 51:10) so that you may continue honoring Him.
4. Serve Others (Mark 10:45): Incorporate acts of service into your self-care routine. Whether volunteering, helping a neighbor, or praying for others, these actions keep vanity in check by reminding you that life is not about self-glorification but serving God and others.
5. Seek God in Prayer (Philippians 4:6): Pray about your self-care practices. Ask God to help you discern between healthy self-care and vanity. Invite Him into your decisions, seeking balance and wisdom in how you care for your body and mind.

Guarding against vanity in self-care as Christians means aligning our actions with God’s will. Let our self-care reflect stewardship, gratitude, and a desire to honor God, rather than a pursuit of admiration or self-glorification.

Conclusion

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. – 1 Corinthians 6:20”

True Christians always seek to honor and glorify God in everything they do. Yet, fearing vanity, many have disregarded caring for their well-being.

Healthy self-care is a beautiful act communicating our love for God’s creation and gratitude for His favor and blessings. Ensuring that our self-care does not overshadow our service to others is essential. 

Maintaining a balanced, inward focus on our true well-being rather than outward validation or appearance is the key to preventing self-care from turning into vanity.

Vanity often takes self-care habits to extremes, motivated by comparison, pride, or a need to impress, which ultimately undermines the purpose of genuine self-care.

Let us approach self-care as an opportunity to steward the bodies and minds God has entrusted to us. By nurturing ourselves spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically, we honor the One who created us. Through prayer, humility, and a focus on God’s glory, we can engage in self-care that reflects a heart of gratitude, free from vanity.

In doing so, we ensure that even our care for ourselves is an act of worship, glorifying God in every aspect of our lives.