Caring for the Caregiving Church

 Have you ever been a caregiver? What is the one thing people tell caregivers to remember? 

"You can't care for others unless you first care for yourself."

Today the message at church reminded us that caring for the needs of those outside the church can only be done by a healthy church. One that takes care of itself by making sure to provide members with the basics. 

Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) taught that successful mission starts with healthy local churches. And he gave five key points to determine the healthy church:

• Purity of life
• Soundness of the gospel
• Unity 
• Devoted to good works
• Abounding in prayer

How does your church measure up to that? Only you and your fellow parishioners can measure.

The church often feels it must care for its own and reach outside itself to care for others. I would posit that it must care for itself in order to be able to reach out and care for others. Before a congregation can care for those outside itself - before we can feed and clothe the needy, before we can preach the Good News to those who have yet to hear it; before we can pray for others - we need to have those foundational needs met within our own body. 

When caring for aging and unwell parents, I often heard "be sure to take time for yourself." They weren't encouraging me to take vacations and leave my parents to fend for themselves. They meant things like getting a good night's sleep, eating properly, getting fresh air.

Taking time for the basics. 

The same applies to caring for a healthy church. 

How is that done?

• Scripture: Assuring that your ministers preach the true Word of God and adhere to it. That the practices of your church follow the guidance found in Scripture.
• Corporate worship: Creating times for people to gather together in worship and praise, to hear the Word, to confess and receive forgiveness, to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord."  Time to check in with one another, encourage one another.
• Prayer: Lifting one another up before the Lord - and that means when we say "I'll be praying for you/about that" we actually do it. 

It means we equip our people to go out into the world and do God's work. 

It also means we want to be equipped. 

If I want to become a doctor, there is teaching I must attend.

If I want to be an electrician, there is training I must get.

If I want to do anything in life there is usually some education involved. 

We all want to make disciples. We all want to minister and do mission in our community. Yet we often want to jump to that - handle the practical - before being properly prepared.

In Ephesians 6 we are taught how to prepare ourselves for that battle that is everyday life: put on the Armor of God. 

We must wear it daily, and work together with our fellow soldiers to share God's Word - His true Gospel - in the world. 

And no one gets into the armed service without basic training. 

Scripture. Prayer. Corporate worship. 

Please don't skip the basics of self-care in your congregation.