Your Health Ps 67:2 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

Many Christians are concerned about their health.  And that’s good.  However, this has led many to follow the health fads that have swept the country in an effort to enjoy better health.  But you have to remember that we are all made very differently and what works for one may not be a good thing for another, at all.  When you add something to your body it is going to have an effect, but the effect may not be beneficial; it may even be harmful.  Furthermore, to neglect a qualified physician because you think what worked for your friend is better than you doctor’s professional opinion and prescription medicine could wind up harming you.

Rather than jump at every new health product or health regimen, why don’t you go to the Bible to see what it has to say about health.  Don’t ignore the spiritual side of the equation.  You may find that by doing what the Bible says, you don’t need to add all these other new health products and supplements just because they worked for one of your friends.

Don’t get me wrong, before we start running these references in the Bible, I want you to understand that I have friends who have benefited from just about everything that is out there.  But I also have friends who have gotten swept up in whatever the current craze is and they could have done as well to buy snake oil, for all the good it did them.  You need to be careful when it comes to your health not to forsake good common sense.  Be wise.

With that said, here’s what the Bible has to say about your health:

Physical health is connected with salvation in the millennium – Ps 67:2 – Jer 17:14, 30:7, 17 – when Jesus was here the first time, he healed people.  They were sick with the diseases of Egypt [Ex 15:26].  The purpose was to show that when he saves Israel [Rom 11:26] he will also heal them.  That’s one of the reasons that we call him the Great Physician.  Remember then that Jesus still heals but we are not in his earthly ministry to Israel or in his millennial reign with Israel restored, so faith isn’t the only cure.

Physical health is connected with the fear of the Lord and departing from evil – Prov 3:7-8 – see also Job 28:28.  This is obvious.  When fear of the Lord and departing from evil give you wisdom and understanding they will keep you from things harmful to your health.  This is good “preventative” medicine.

Physical health is connected with attending to the words of God – Prov 4:20-23 – reading the words of God is good for your flesh and your heart.  Your heart responds to the comfort and peace of the words of God.  Evidence shows that Bible readers and folks who pray recover in the hospital faster and better than those who don’t read and pray. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” [Matt 4:4].

Physical health is connected with hope in God – Ps 42:11 – having the presence of God in your life and enjoying continual fellowship with Him can counteract depression and other emotional and psychosomatic conditions.  These conditions can compromise your physical health and so reducing these conditions by hoping in God should improve your health.

Physical health is connected with wise counsel – Prov 12:18 – when you are doing things to your health that are not good, a person who is wise can speak the truth [Prov 12:17] to you about your abuse.  If you will listen and follow what you are told to do their wise counsel can help you improve your health.

Physical health is connected with pleasant words – Prov 16:24 – there are some people who receive a steady diet of hateful and malicious words from the people with whom they associate.  They live in a world of contention and strife.  Many of us suffer physically from that kind of exposure.  Therefore, pleasant words to us improve our health.  The thing to do then is to get around encouraging people and avoid conversations, as much as possible, with those who tear you down.  Cut back on or quit listening to talk radio.  You will notice a reduction in harmful fear and stress in your life!

Physical health is connected with your diet – Acts 27:33-34 – in Paul’s case, he and his shipmates had been fasting through the storm and they needed the physical strength to swim to the shore.  However, we know that what you eat or don’t eat has something to do with your health.  Therefore, eat to nourish your body not to simply gratify your appetite.

Conclusion: these are spiritual and practical measures that you can take to improve and/or maintain your health.  Incorporate these into your life and you will find that you don’t have to chase after the next new fad.