Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

The Bible and Health

The Word of YHWH gives good reasons to take care of our health.

“I AM THE LORD WHO HEALS YOU”
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. [3 John 2]

The Bible endorses the value of the physical body; after all, it was created by YHWH. The believer should, therefore, seek to understand and intentionally put into practice measures that enhance health. Care for one’s health is a moral matter — evidence of loyalty and responsible service to YHWH. At the practical level, the condition of one’s health largely determines whether a person can carry out effective service for the Lord.

Although the foundational goals and values of health from a biblical perspective are conveyed through Scripture, the exact means of achieving these goals has come largely from medical science which validates principles of health found in the Bible. It’s incumbant on all Christians to do what they can to take care of their health: exercise, wholesome diet, proper rest, practical satisfying work, avoidance of damaging substances/practices, good habits of cleanliness, cultivated efforts to live in peace with and to help others, and a profound trust in YHWH make the best possible use of the life the Lord had given us. Our bodies are sacred gifts; we have the responsibility to take care of them the best way we know how.

TO BE IN HEALTH
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [Romans 12:1]

We tend to think of the Bible as dealing only with the “spiritual side” of things — but that’s not the case. Scripture shows that YHWH cares also about our physical being and that our spiritual side is linked with the physical. We can find in the Bible good reasons for taking care of our health:

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. [Romans 14:7]

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. [1 Corinthians 3:16, 17]

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 2:5]

Scripture makes it clear the Lord cares about our health and physical well-being. After all, what loving parent doesn’t care about the health — mental and physical — of their child? How much more so would the Lord care about ours?
Food for thought: It’s been said that we never care about our health until we lose it. If you’re healthy, do you take that health for granted?

HEALTH AND RESTORATION
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [1 John 3:2]

In the beginning, our Creator made us without sickness and disease. The plan of salvation is the Lord’s divine way to bring us back to what we originally lost. He wants to restore us to what we once had.
Healing and restoration are often talked about in the Bible. The Lord’s promises to restore Israel are abundantly clear in language filled with healing and curative terms (e.g., Jeremiah 30:12-17; Ezekiel 47:12; Malachi 4:2). In the New Testament, one of the Greek words for “healing” (SOTERIA) may be translated as either “healing” or “salvation.” Salvation, then, may include not only rescue from sin and its consequences, but also restoration — healing of the whole person.

All Bible teachings are predicated on the basis that in the end, what was lost when sin entered will be restored when the One who created becomes the One who restores His creation. Those who love and serve YHWH will be restored to the perfect condition that once was; all evil will be destroyed, never to rise again. In both the Old and New Testaments, prophecies concerning the New Earth describe freedom from pain, sickness and death (e.g., Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 21:4). The apostle Paul rejoices in Messiah’s resurrection as proof that He’s victor over all evil forces; His victory has become ours (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

YAHUSHUA, THE GREAT HEALER
And the people, when they knew it, followed him; and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. [Luke 9:11]

We often hear of Yahushua as the Great Physician. And no wonder: approximately 20% of the Gospels is dedicated to His restoring sick people to health. The Gospels report 35 specific/unique instances of healing, alongside the general reports.
Through the miraculous healings Yahushua gave great evidence regarding His role as Messiah. As humans, we’ve been damaged spiritually, emotionally and physically by sin. The entire plan of salvation centers on restoring to us what was lost. In the beginning there was no sickness or death; in the end, there will likewise be neither (e.g., Revelation 21:4). By healing, Yahushua was showing to the world the power of Father YHWH to bring about restoration, to bring about what was lost by sin.

Yahushua’s primary task was to proclaim that YHWH is receiving His sinful, suffering creatures in a sweeping act of grace and love. His actions were evidence of final deliverance from a world of sin. He came to deliver, to seek and to save, to forgive, to proclaim the day of YHWH’s mercy, to confer life everlasting, and to be the restorer of all that was lost. Yahushua was first of all the Messiah, and physical healings were evidences of His authority.

TEMEPRANCE
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we, an incorruptible. [1 Corinthians 9:24, 25]

The Greek word used in many verses for “temperate” comes from a term often used in the context of athletic training; of an athlete who, in preparation for an event such as a race, takes special care to abstain from that which can hurt his or her body. How much more should this principle apply to Christians in the race of Life? We know about health problems that come from the use of liquor, illegal drugs and so forth. Yet, so often bad health comes from overindulging in the gifts YHWH has given us to enjoy. Contrary to popular caricatures of Biblical religion, it’s not sinful to enjoy these gifts. They may be enjoyed in their proper sphere and in temperance, as clearly shown in Scripture.

“True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful, and to use judiciously that which is healthful. There are few who realize as they should how much their habits of diet have to do with their health, their character, their uselfulness in this world, and their eternal destiny. The appetite should ever be in subjection to the moral and intellectual powers” [from the book “Child Guidance” by Ellen White, page 398].

Food for thought: some self-reflection is necessary. How moderate and temperate are you — even with that which is good? What changes might you need to make?

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. [1 John 4:18]

Scriptures speak many times about the need to love one another. Yahushua said it’s the greatest of all commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). When Paul speaks about Christian virtues such as faith, hope and love, he says that the greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Study after study shows how family love — a close loving relationship between parents and children — can stem a tide of evils in young people, evils that can bear terrible results in adulthood.

YHWH’s people need to love one another (1 Thessalonians 3:2), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2), be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32), admonish one another (Romans 15:14), be tenderhearted and forgiving of one another (Ephesians 4:32), comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18), show compassion to one another (1 Peter 3:8), be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9) and pray for one another (James 5:16). These commands help us to be connected as the Lord’s people and will strengthen family relationships. We can have a positive moral, spiritual, and physical influence on one another.