The call to “love your neighbour as yourself” implies that we take care of ourselves. Why? Because as God says to us
‘I have called you by name, you are mine. Because you are precious in my sight and honoured and I love you.’ Isaiah 43:1,4
Bishop John, former Bishop of Warwick, says:
"To honour God’s call in our lives, we need to ensure, as far as is humanly possible, that we are healthy in body, mind and spirit. If we are to be and to remain resourced and energized for ministry, it is essential to make time for study, rest and recreation. The most important vocation is to be and to become the one God has called us to be.
‘Keeping watch over ourselves’ (Acts 20:28) and ‘paying close attention to ourselves’ (1 Timothy 4:16) includes every aspect of ourselves - spiritual, physical, mental, emotional etc. It is how we keep ourselves fit for the Lord’s service."
