HEARTS AND HEALTH (1)

“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever HARDENS their HEART falls into trouble” – Proverbs 28:14, NIV

HARDENED HEARTS are prone to troubled life and HEALTH: “Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who HARDENS his HEART falls into trouble” (Pro.28:14). The Message Bible says: “A TENDER HEARTED person lives a blessed life; a HARD HEARTED person lives a hard life.” This scripture compares the reverent heart to the hardened heart. The reverent heart has a respectful fear of the Lord; whereas the hardened heart is stubborn, insisting on doing things its own way. The reverent heart will be blessed, but the hardened heart will experience much trouble. Whether we enjoy Fulfilment and Happiness or experience Trouble and Hardship in life is a matter of the Heart! This principle relates to all aspects of life, including Health and Well-being.

Whoever fears God, who respects and revers Him, will be happy and blessed. The Amplified describes such a person as one who has a healthy appreciation for the consequence or outcome of sin. Such people consider not only how their choices affect themselves, but others as well. In contrast, the hardened, calloused heart, cares not who or what their sinful choices will affect. They care only about satisfying self. These folks have seared their conscience and care not if they offend God. They dive right into sin, driven by the desire for instant gratification. People, who harden their heart against God, are headed for calamity, misfortune, and serious trouble!

When Adam and Eve blatantly decided to go against God’s directive and ate of the fruit that they had been forbidden to eat, they ende up being separated from the Divine Presence, and fell into fear, struggles, sickness, poverty, and death. Zechariah 7:11-13 paints a picture of the half-hearted fool: “But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their HEARTS like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts.” “…Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Lk.11:28).

God desires that His people would always choose to be obedient and to revere Him: “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die” (Pro.19:16). To insist on doing things our own way will only result in troubles and pains. Here are few of God’s scriptural Instructions for sound physical, mental, and spiritual health:

“…“If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you” (Exo.15:26).

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be HEALTH to your flesh, and strength to your bones” (Pro.3:7-8).

“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your HEART; for they are LIFE to those who find them, and HEALTH to all their flesh” (Pro.4:20-22).

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Pro.20:1). We must avoid liquor and other intoxicants, lest we be led astray into addiction and destruction.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY and in YOUR SPIRIT, which are God’s” (1Cor.6:19-20).

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God” (1Cor.10:31).