We all know with the arrival of each new day that time is marching on. We also know that aging is a part of the life cycle. In particular, if you are a woman, each birthday you have brings about a long reflective look at how you are aging. Some of the external ways that we evaluate the aging process are: the discovery of crows feet, fine lines, wrinkles, shading, and changes in the skin’s elasticity, etc. On a deeper psychological level, every birthday that we have doesn’t just speak to the passing of time, but encourages self-examination about what life-lessons have been learned, and what goals/dreams we are still striving toward.
If we search The Word, a two things are sure to come to mind: 1) we have a God-given responsibility to preserve our bodies and 2) the realization that as we grow older and gain wisdom, we should be better able to take care of ourselves both physically and mentally than when we were younger. 1Corinthians 6:19 questions; “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Whereas 1Corinthians 3:17 speaks to God’s displeasure and consequence for us not taking care of ourselves “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
If God has given us the gift of physical life (evidenced by our aging), with the responsibility of taking care of ourselves, it would stand to reason that He did so with a purpose in mind. That purpose for us as Christians is about giving God glory by working for the furtherance of His kingdom here on Earth. Ephesians 4:16 states “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
There it is, that four-letter word “love.” God loves us by giving us our physical bodies and the gift of life for numerous days (aging). So then, as we age and mature in this Christian walk, we should walk in obedience to God by being good stewards and caring for ourselves. If we do this, then we are loving ourselves, and can be about His work and show His love to others and in doing so show our love for Him.
Blessings!