God’s Provision for your Health

It is commonly said that health is wealth. So much is happening in our world today as humanity is ravaged with various health challenges. The global health challenge we are facing today has literally brought the world to a standstill with so much losses and untold pain to people in different nations of the world.  

Does God care about our health? Is He at all interested in our physical well-being? Is there any provision in the word of God for our health and wellness? Do Christians have any role to play in order to live well and healthy?

Welcome on board as we run through the word of God for answers to these questions and many more.

 God wants us to be healthy and sound. His will for us above all things is to prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper… (3 John vs 2).

And the entire provision to ensure this becomes our daily reality has been made available for us in Christ and in the laws of God in nature. Here are five of the provisions (divine laws) God has made available for us and some practical steps on how to maximize them.

1. The Law of His Mouth (The Word of God): Matthew 4:4, John 15:3; Prov.4:20-24

           Receive; I pray thee, the law from His mouth… Job 22:22

We were birthed into existence by the word of God. And thus are we sustained (Genesis.1:26, John.1:1-3; Colossians. 1:16-18). Through daily study and meditation, we are able to know the will and mind of God for our health. Therein, we learn the value of our bodies as God’s temple and the laws of God for the maintenance of our physical well-being (such as cleanliness, forgiveness, walking in love, eating balanced diet, getting adequate rest, etc).

Daily study and meditation on God’s Word keeps our Spirit alive, keeps our soul cleansed, keeps our minds sound and keeps our bodies healthy.

2. The Law of Expertise- The Gift of skilled and trained medical professionals

Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there?… Jeremiah 8:22

Medical Practitioners are a great blessing from God to help us live healthy lives. We will do well to maximise this provision for our good by seeking counsel/getting medical advice where and when we need to do so as well as going for medical checkups. Practising self-medication and patronising unskilled medical practitioners should not be our testimony as this has brought serious health problems to many. We must value our health enough to seek medical/ health care only from skilled and competent professionals as well as verify every health information we receive from trusted sources. Health information received via social media should always be verified so that we don’t make costly mistakes and get ourselves into trouble.

3. The Law of Replenishment – The Provision of God in Nature (Food and Water) – 1 Samuel 30:11,12

…eat ye that which is good…Isaiah 55:2

Maximising the dietary provisions God has given us to richly enjoy in nature is necessary for our healthy living.

Plants have been given as food to man by God our creator (Genesis.1:29-31). They contain healthy nutrients for our body. The required vitamins we need to combat any disease at any particular season of the year, is richly deposited in the fruits and vegetables grown, cultivated and available in that season of the year. For example, eating the fruits and vegetables grown in this season (water melon, cucumber, coconut, mangoes etc) builds our immunity against the common illnesses related to this season of hot weather. 

It is also important to drink water sufficiently for a healthy body. Our eyes, skin, kidneys, digestive system and circulatory system all need adequate rehydration to function optimally. Health experts recommend we drink 8-ounce glasses which is about two litres of water per day to meet our daily metabolic needs.                 

4. The Law of Hygiene: Leviticus. 15:1-18; Mark 7:1-8; Matthew 23:25,26; Deuteronomy 23:10-11; 24:8,

Wash and make yourselves clean… Isaiah 1:16

The book of Leviticus is full of teachings/ instructions on separation and cleansing. It speaks about practices of purification by bathing, washing hands, washing items under running water, burning with fire (a form of sterilisation), isolation of people who have infectious diseases etc

 Contained in the law of God to His people Israel are teachings on sanitary practices for bodily waste disposal (Deuteronomy .23:12-14), teachings about clean and unclean foods as well as the need to wash our bodies and our household utensils for the sake of cleanliness.

Priests were required to wash and bath in water before and after going into the tabernacle to do service. They were taught to remove people who had bodily discharges, infectious skin diseases etc from contact with others and for anyone who has a contact with them to wash in water and change their clothes.

Today, Jesus has made us Kings and Priests and we are to teach others the principles of hygiene and cleanliness for our own safety and for the safety of others.

Two Basic forms of Hygiene :

• Hand Hygiene – Hand washing is the single most important step we can take to control disease transmission. Washing with soap and water for 40 to 60 seconds is generally recommended by health experts (see steps on hand washing in below diagram). When do we wash our hands?
• After using the toilet
• Before preparing food
• Before eating
• Before and after coming in contact with a sick person
• Before and after we apply topical medications
• Before handling sensitive items such as contact lenses
• After coughing or sneezing
• Respiratory Hygiene/ Cough Etiquette – This refers to the hygienic practices required to prevent and protect ourselves against respiratory illnesses (see diagram for steps).

5. The Law of the Sabbath (The Law of Rest):

Genesis.2:2, 3 …God ended His work….and God rested…

 There is a time to rest (Eccl.3:1). If God Almighty rested after His work, then no one should make you feel guilty for resting after much work. Be ye followers of God as dear children..(Eph.5:1). Make time to rest when you need to.

Sleeping for six to eight hours daily is needful for the rejuvenation of our health and for the building of our immune system. It is important to take leave, go for retreat or take a break whenever we find ourselves becoming mentally stressed.

Taking time off to rest is needful after much work. We need to learn to disconnect our minds from work when we are off work or on holidays in order to rest. Resting and relaxation increases our efficiency and productivity as we are refreshed, revitalized and replenished for the Lord’s purpose.

Dearly beloved in Christ, all we need for life and Godliness has been delivered to us in Christ. We need sound minds in healthy bodies to remain fit for our Master who paid such a high price to ransom and redeem us. It is high time we take responsibility to care for our bodies as the temple of the Lord. Now that you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.