I would like to talk about God’s will for our health and to look at how the biblical view of health differs from the worldly view. After all, health is both a major theme in the Bible and a major concern in our lives, and we are taught as Christians that we have to change our thinking according to God’s will. That includes our thinking on health.
The current western thinking on health goes something like this; we are made as wonderful machines, but like all machines we occasionally break down. When that happens, we need an expert to come and fix the broken part and put us back together again.
Is that view consistent with the Bible?
To answer that question, let’s start by looking at God’s will for our health. After all, it says in Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)
So, what is God’s will for our health?
It is clear right from the beginning that God provided Adam with the perfect setting for perfect health.
Genesis 2: 8-10 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
God gave Adam the best possible food in the best possible environment. The garden was beautiful and it was watered by four mineral-rich rivers.
We know the story. Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent and chose to do things their own way rather than God’s way. God’s perfect world was corrupted by sin, and they were expelled from the garden. Thus began the spiritual war between health and life, and disease and death.
Is it still possible to be healthy in a fallen world?
Let’s look at how God made us.
Psalm 139:14-16 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
When you read those words, do you feel God’s care for you? Do you feel the wonder of his creation of your body, soul, and spirit? Do you realise that you are a million times more than just a machine that breaks down occasionally?
You were made for LIFE and HEALTH by a loving Father, who has provided everything you need for wholeness in body, soul, and spirit. To walk in that provision, you have to:
- Change your thinking
- Recognise that you need to take responsibility for your own health as part of your walk with God.
- Dissociate yourself from the corruption of the world both physically and spiritually.
How has our world been corrupted? In many ways. But according to 1 Timothy 6:10, the love of money is the root of all evil. Where there are riches and the desire for more wealth, there is corruption. Two good examples of this are the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry. And they are run for the benefit of their share holders, not for the benefit of your health.
The food industry makes money if their food tastes good. And with good business sense, they use the cheapest ingredients available. Salt, sugar, and artificial flavourings make food taste good. But they are not good for your health.
The pharmaceutical industry makes money if you feel better as quickly as possible. This means overriding your body’s natural systems in order to reduce symptoms. They do not make money by addressing the root cause of disease and advising you to change your lifestyle.
The examples I’ve just given you are signs of corruption in the world, and they stand in opposition to God’s intention that you should live an abundant life.
So, the question is — Are you putting anything into your body that comes from the corruption of the world rather than from God’s abundant provision for your health?
If so, please think again about how your loving heavenly Father created you, and what he has provided for your health. Then prayerfully ask God for wisdom in making lifestyle chances, so you can walk in the abundant life he always intended for you.