“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7

The amount of medical knowledge that is available today is almost beyond belief. We have Scores of medical journals, internet search engines, and textbooks to give us information. You can buy a medical textbook now and in a few years it will be out of date! The amount of available information is far more than one individual can absorb. Some of the information is redundant, and at times there may be conflicting information. At times what may be considered true may be found in later years to be no longer valid.

If we study the Scriptures we will find some timeless principles and information that can help us to live longer and healthier lives. These principles are unchanging and valid even thought they were written thousands of years ago. In this article it is impossible to look at all of the relevant texts, but we will look at a few to give you an idea about how the wisdom of the Bible can make us healthier.

• Genesis 1:29 “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”

This text tells us that the original diet given to man was a plant-based vegetarian diet. This is basically a diet with abundant fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains (such as wheat, rice and corn). If we today would make our diets more like this we could see less obesity, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and degenerative diseases such as arthritis. Science has confirmed the benefits of such a diet.

• Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

Stress, depression, worry and anxiety are all things that can have a negative impact on our health. Prior to actual physical illness, a person may suffer from stress. A broken spirit can decrease the quality of our lives. We must be aware of the relationship between our physical and mental health. We can seek remedies such as looking at the many promises God has given us to help us overcome the troubles of the world. Jesus said: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. “ (John 16:33)

• Psalms 103: 2&3 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.”

This text implies to us the benefits of praise. Did you know that praise can be therapeutic? The next time you are in trouble and you are crying out to God to help you, add praise to your request. Thank God for being a loving Father, and thank Him for what He has done for you and for what He will be doing.

• nJohn 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The thief in this text is the devil. He wants you to be sick, in pain, and feeling bad. He wants to destroy you. However, Jesus came to give us a more abudant life. What this means is that in Jesus we can have a longer life here plus eternal life. In addition we can have physical mental and spiritual wholeness.

• Genesis 2:15 “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”

God’s ideal for us was not sedentary living. He made us to be active and vigorous. Adam was made fit to work. We have been given 650 muscles and we need to use all of them somehow. If we exercise and use our muscles, we will be stronger and healthier, even if we have to go to a gym to do it!

• I Corinthians 9:25 “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible.”

Temperance can be described as moderation in all things or self-control. In our country of super-sized servings and super-abundant food, we need to practice restraint. Advertising is used to entice our children to eat high fat, high calorie food that will make them into sick children and perhaps even sicker adults! We need to counter this by teaching our children self-control and we also need to practice this as well. Just say no at times. Our bodies will be healthier if we do this.

• I Corinthians 6: 19&20 “What! know ye 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.”

We need to care for our bodies as if they did not belong to us! At times we take better care of our expensive cars then our own bodies! Instead care for your bod as something of infinite value as we have been “bought with a price”. If we cared for our bodies with meticulous care as we should, we would avoid unnecessay pain and suffering and we would be more fit to serve God and people.

I would like to have you consider remembering the above texts, and others that will help you to live longer and better. May God blesss you as you search the Scriptures.