What Does The Bible Say About Health And Wellness

Good health and wellness are important parts of living a fulfilled, meaningful life. If you’re interested to know what guidance the Bible offers on this topic, you’ve come to the right place.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: The Bible encourages living a balanced life, caring for our bodies, and finding contentment. Key principles it offers include moderation, stewardship of our bodies, trust in God, the importance of rest and community.

In this comprehensive article, we will explore various biblical perspectives on health and wellness. We’ll cover principles around topics like diet, exercise, managing stress and anxiety, finding purpose and community, trusting God, balancing work and rest, and more.

Caring For Our Physical Bodies

Temple of the Holy Spirit

The Bible teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As such, we have a responsibility to care for and honor God with our physical beings. Getting adequate sleep, eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and avoiding unhealthy habits are key ways we can steward our body temples.

Proper Rest and Sleep

Resting our bodies is important. God instituted a day of rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11). Likewise, we need sufficient sleep for our health. Lack of sleep is associated with increased risk of accidents, heart disease, and depression. Experts recommend adults get 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Eating in Moderation

The Bible encourages eating in moderation and rejecting gluttony. According to research, diets higher in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish are associated with numerous health benefits like decreased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

As an act of self-care, we can choose more nutritious foods in proper portions.

Warnings Against Gluttony and Drunkenness

While enjoying God’s provision of food and drink can be good (Psalm 104:14-15), the Bible warns against gluttony and drunkenness which can harm our health and relationship with God. Consuming excessive amounts of unhealthful foods and alcohol are linked to increased risk for heart disease, liver problems, obesity, and some cancers.

Moderation and wisdom are key.

Caring for our God-given bodies is an act of Christian stewardship. As the Bible instructs, maintaining our health enables us to serve God and others with our strength (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Through adequate rest, nutritious eating, exercise, and moderation, we honor the Lord with our physical beings.

Managing Stress and Anxiety

Casting Cares Upon the Lord

The Bible encourages us to “cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). By trusting God with our worries and releasing them to Him in prayer, we can find peace and relief from stress (Philippians 4:6-7).

As we cling to God’s truths found in Scripture and remember His faithfulness, He lifts our burdens and quiets our minds (Psalm 94:19).

Finding Contentment and Gratitude

The antidote to anxiety is developing an attitude of gratitude and contentment that comes from God (1 Timothy 6:6-8). As we set our minds on Christ and focus on His blessings rather than earthly desires, we experience joy and peace that surpasses circumstances (Colossians 3:1-2, 15).

Counting our blessings daily cultivates our trust in God’s provision.

Issues of Worry and Fear

God tells us not to worry because He is control, knowing our every need (Matthew 6:25-34). Rather than being anxious, we can boldly take concerns to Him in prayer, with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). As we meditate on Scriptures about God’s faithfulness, our fears are quieted by His perfect love (1 John 4:18).

We can even rejoice in trials, knowing God uses them for our good (Romans 8:28).

For more on biblical keys to overcoming anxiety, see resources at CRU.org or BibleStudyTools.com.

Community, Relationships, and Emotional Wellness

Importance of Fellowship and Community

The Bible emphasizes the importance of Christian fellowship and community. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Believers are encouraged to meet together regularly to worship God, study the Bible, pray, and support one another.

Some key benefits of Christian community include:

• Mutual encouragement and accountability
• Opportunity to use our gifts to serve others
• Hearing testimonies that build our faith
• Forming deeper friendships

Loving Others and Being Peacemakers

Jesus taught that loving one another is one of the greatest commandments. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 19:19). The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates what it means to love others sacrificially, even those considered enemies or outcasts of society.

The Bible also instructs believers to seek peace with others, as much as it depends on us (Romans 12:16). We do this by:

• Showing patience, kindness and compassion
• Forgiving those who wrong us
• Resolving interpersonal conflicts quickly

Overcoming Loneliness and Isolation

Loneliness and isolation negatively impact emotional and physical health. Studies show that lacking social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day!

God does not intend for us to go through life alone. The body of Christ serves as built-in community, providing companionship and support. Here are keys to overcoming isolation:

• Joining a small group for study, prayer, and friendship
• Serving together alongside other believers in ministry
• Reaching out to members who seem lonely or forgotten

If we make efforts to draw people in instead of pushing them away, we can experience sweet fellowship as Christ intends.

Stewardship, Meaningful Work, and Rest

Our Bodies and Gifts Are On Loan

The Bible teaches that our bodies and abilities are gifts from God, and that we are called to be good stewards of these gifts (1 Corinthians 4:7). This means caring for our physical health through exercise, nutrition, and rest.

It also involves using our talents and abilities in a meaningful way to serve God and others. We are managers, not owners, of the resources God has entrusted to us.

For example, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Our health and abilities should be cared for and used to glorify God.

Sabbath Principles

The concept of Sabbath reminds us that God has designed us to need cycles of work and rest. Setting aside consistent, weekly times for physical rest, spiritual rejuvenation, and connection with God and others is vital for long-term health and avoiding burnout (Exodus 20:8-11).

Jesus affirmed this principle, stating “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Finding balanced rhythms of work and renewal sustains us for the long haul in pursuing God’s purposes.

Finding Purpose in Our Work

The Bible encourages us that all legitimate work has dignity and eternal value when done to the glory of God. Our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). God equips each person with unique gifts and abilities to steward for His purposes.

Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We honor God by using our gifts to serve others, whether through traditional ministry roles or secular vocations.

Our work matters when done with Christian motivations and ethics.

Conclusion

The Bible offers much wisdom relevant to living a healthy, balanced life even today. While it doesn’t address modern health topics directly, key principles around caring for our bodies, managing stress, connecting in community, finding purpose, and more can guide us.

By studying biblical principles but also praying for wisdom and discernment, we can make decisions about diet, exercise, work-life balance and other areas of wellness that honor God and allow us to thrive. Our bodies and health are gifts, and we can choose daily how to be good stewards of them.