Living Healthy For The Kingdom of God
My daughter recently turned one year old this week and I have been doing lots of research into proper health and nutrition for her because I want to make sure that she receives the best and has the best health overall. Whilst doing my research, I had been reflecting on what all of this means in light of The Bible. Are we to care about our own selves, our personal health and wellbeing? Or are we to essentially show apathy towards all of this?
First off, God is our maker. He designed each and every one of us with a unique set of DNA and sense of purpose in life. He gave us a book that provides us with a set of guidelines for how we should live our lives in this world. This book, being The Bible, teaches us right from wrong. It is a set of morals and principles that God wants us to abide by.
For example, God tells us to stay away from fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18), drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18), gluttony (Proverbs 23:21), and other sinful acts that can affect our overall health and wellbeing, and thus, our own selves that God created. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Looking after ourselves is so important when it comes to our overall health and wellness. God created us and I would hate for anyone to abuse His creation through the use of unhealthy means such as bad foods, alcohol, cigarettes, fornication, porn and drugs. Our body is a temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). By treating our bodies so poorly and sinfully is disrespectful to God. As such, it is essential for us to stay mindful of how we treat our bodies through our actions for there are both physical and spiritual consequences too.
In the physical sense, depending on how we treat our bodies will affect our health. God has given us a variety of healthy, nutritious and beneficial foods through His perfect creation, to allow us to stay in good shape. “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat… Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things” (Genesis 1:29, 9:3). When we fall into the trap of eating bad foods, especially on a regular basis, it can corrupt our systems. Besides eating junk food, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, even fornicating and watching porn will all negatively impact our health and our lives too. It will also affect our relationships with God because we are allowing these sinful temptations to manipulate us, and distract us from being on the straight and narrow with God. That is why God warns us against such things!
This is where it then leads to a spiritual effect as well. In the spiritual sense, God can chastise us for the sins that we commit. He isn’t going to allow us to roam about doing whatever we want, whenever we want, without correction, and discipline. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Hebrews 12:6-7).
When we are born again, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us, and we feel led to do that which is right unto God, in order to serve and please Him. Our desires are moreso spiritually led then in the flesh and we tear ourselves apart from the world, in order to be more aligned with The Word. However, due to the fall of mankind, and sin entering this world, we have a constant battle in the flesh and in the spirit too. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13). No one is perfect, but we, as Christians, should be renewing our minds, and redirecting our focus on the things above, rather than of this world. “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… Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:2).
How can we do this? Is this really so important to us? To God? Absolutely! God does not want us to live in such a disgraceful state. He wants us to grow and live righteously. Seek the kingdom of God first (Matthew 6:33), follow the two greatest commandments that Jesus taught us (Matthew 22:37-40) which are to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to walk in the spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). When we focus on what God wants us to do, in all matters, which includes being as healthy as we can be, and looking after our own selves, then we find that we are becoming less and less apart of this world (which is a good thing!). This is why we must continue to stay in prayer (Romans 12:12), to study The Word (2 Timothy 2:15), and thrive to be more like Christ (Galatians 5).
We are new creations unto God (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are renewed in the image of Christ (Colossians 3:10). Our bodies are a living sacrifice unto God (Romans 12:1). Therefore, it is important to take care of our bodies, and to continue to follow God, walk in the spirit, not in the flesh, and to stay away from sinful, fleshly desires that will only harm us, not help us “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).