THE VALUE OF HEALTH

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your BODY and in your SPIRIT, which are God’s” –1 Corinthians 6:20

The Perfection of Health cannot be divorced from the appreciation of the VALUE of HEALTH: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your BODY and in your SPIRIT, which are God’s” (1Cor.6:20). As Christians, we often focus on our spiritual relationship with God without appreciating the value of our health in that relationship. Let’s meditate on some simple but profound scriptural reasons God wants us to be healthy and well. I choose to personalize these motives:

My Health Glorifies God. The primary purpose of every of God’s creature is to declare the Praise of God – to glorify God: “This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise” (Isa.43:21). Whatever we do must be to the glory of God: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Cor.10:31). We were created and formed by God to glorify Him. We do so when we care for our spirit, mind, and body; when we live a healthy lifestyle.

My Body is God’s Temple that I must care for: “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? (1Cor.6:19). The Holy Spirit lives inside the believer: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1Cor.3:16). At the new birth, God gives us His Spirit to help us live His kind of life. Having been “bought” by the high price of Jesus’ death, we are obligated to glorify Him in our spirit, soul, and body!

My Body is part of my Stewardship. God has made us to be stewards over many things in life, including our bodies and minds. We should be wise stewards of what God has entrusted to us. From Genesis up until Glory, it is always God’s will for us to be good stewards of everything Heaven gives, including our own bodies (Mt. 24:45-51).

Sound Health is the Children’s Covenant Portion. Healing is the children’s bread for which we don’t need to beg: “But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” (Mk.7:27). Like any parent, God desires that His children grow and mature in faith. This requires that we receive life more abundantly – through spiritual and physical nourishment!

My Health is a Positive Witness. We are admonished to be bold witnesses for the Gospel truth: “…you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). Taking care of our health is an important approach to being a good witness. God wants us to be healthy so we can encourage others to come to His saving grace. The Lord Jesus gave solid witness to His Messianic calling by His healing ministry. People expect us to be models of the Christian faith, living in a way that fully represents our faith. Sound health also helps me to spread the Gospel!

Sound Health boosts Energy to Do God’s Work. The better our physical health, the more fit we are to serve and the better equipped we are to be stewards of His will. When we’re not physically well, it has ripple effects on our emotions, and multiplies problems. We are God’s masterpiece, created to do the good things that He had planned from the eternal past (Eph.2:10). The healthier we are, the more energy we will have for performance and productivity. 

A healthy body and mind encourage healthy spiritual thoughts, and closer intimacy with God! A Believer who values his or her relationship with God will take good care of his or her health. God wants us healthy and active, so we can be victorious over all evil confronting us. It is honouring our faith when we help take care of the health of believers, including ours.