Truth For These Times

17. HEALTHFUL LIVING

To some it seems strange that the health of the body should have anything to do with Christian
practise; but it is not so strange when we consider the close relationship of the mind and the body.
The brain is in fact a physical organ, and whatever affects the health of the body, must have some
affect on the mind. God communicates with us through the Spirit by impressing His truths upon the
mind. If the mind is dull through sickness or unhealthful living, then God’s avenue of
communication is hampered, and our spiritual growth may be dwarfed.

3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and BE IN HEALTH, just
as your soul prospers.

John wished his friends good health in body and soul – the two are closely related. It is God’s
desire that we enjoy health. Some do not because of inherited weaknesses, and others because of
disobedience to the laws of their being; but if all follow health principles, each individual can enjoy
the best possible health for him personally.

1 Corinthians 6:19,20 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.

Some feel they have a right to do as they please with their own
lives. But the fact is we do not belong to ourselves, but to God,
first of all because of creation, secondly because of redemption.
When we consider our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit,
this places us under obligation to care for our bodies.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that YOU ARE THE

TEMPLE OF GOD and that the Spirit of
God dwells in you?

The condition of the human life is clear – it should be the

dwelling place of the Spirit.

There are eight main rules to follow to enjoy good health. They
are as follows:

1. Fresh Air: It is good to breathe deeply in the open

air.

2. Sunshine: We do not need more than several minutes a day, but it is vital.

3. Water: This is needed on the inside – about six glasses a day between meals. And
on the outside – bathing or showering regularly.

1
 Truth For these Times – Lesson 17. Healthful Living

4. Exercise: Modern man has neglected this very important feature of healthful living.
This neglect has resulted in much disease. Brisk walking daily for at least 20
minutes is the best exercise.

5. Rest: It is equally important to get adequate rest. The batteries must be recharged.

6. Temperance: True temperance is moderation in that which is good, and total abstinence in
that which is harmful.

7. Diet: Correct eating is vital. We are what we

eat.

8. Trust in God: Most sicknesses originate in a disturbed

mind. The relationship between a troubled
mind and a diseased body is very real.
When we trust God we experience peace
of mind.

Genesis 1:29 And God said, “See, I have given you EVERY HERB THAT YIELDS SEED
which is on the face of all the earth, and EVERY TREE WHOSE FRUIT
yields seed; to you it shall be for food.”

Genesis 3:18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall EAT THE
HERB OF THE FIELD.

After man sinned, the “herb of the field”, or vegetables, was added to his diet perhaps because of
their cleansing properties now needed because of the affect of sin on the body of man.

Genesis 9:3,4 EVERY MOVING THING THAT LIVES SHALL BE FOOD FOR YOU. I
have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh
with its life, THAT IS, ITS BLOOD.

After the flood, vegetation and food was scarce, so God

permitted man to eat flesh, with one stipulation – the blood
must first be drained. To suggest anything that lives is good for
food, is not what is intended here, for Noah knew the
difference between clean and unclean animals. For instance, to
eat some fish will cause death. There was a limit on what could
be eaten.

Genesis 7:2 You shall take with you seven each of every
CLEAN ANIMAL, a male and his female; two each of
ANIMALS THAT ARE UNCLEAN, a male and his female.

Noah was well aware of the clean and unclean animals. After man started eating meat, it is
interesting to see the decreased life span of man. The first ten patriarchs lived approximately 900
years each, but after the flood the age span gradually fell, until Abraham, the tenth after the flood,
lived 175 years.

2
 Truth For these Times – Lesson 17. Healthful Living

Deuteronomy 14:3-8 You shall not eat any detestable thing.

THESE ARE THE ANIMALS WHICH YOU MAY EAT: the
ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the
wild goat, the mountain goat, the antelope, and the mountain
sheep. And you may eat every animal with cloven hooves,
having the hoof split into two parts, and that chews the cud,
among the animals. NEVERTHELESS, of those that chew the
cud or have cloven hooves, YOU SHALL NOT EAT, SUCH
AS THESE: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax; for they
chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean
Pigs are unclean animals.
for you.

A clean animal must both chew the cud and have a split hoof. Cows, sheep, deer, goats, etc, are
classed as clean because they chew the cud and have a split hoof. The rabbit, pig etc, are classed as
unclean. In Isaiah 66:17 God says that eating of swine’s flesh is an abomination.

It is not a sin to eat meat, but because God made man a vegetarian, this must be the diet God
intended man to follow; therefore it must be the most healthful. Man’s teeth and digestive system
parallel herbivorous animals. Some feel that one would suffer bad health if meat was eliminated
from the diet, but the opposite is more likely to be true. Meat contains many waste substances
which the body must deal with in the digestive process. Also in our world today meat is often
diseased, which makes eating it a health risk. There are a number of animal diseases which can be
transmitted to man. According to some nutritionists, a lacto (milk and milk products) ovo (eggs)
vegetarian diet is nutritionally sound. Other nutritionists have found a vegetarian diet without milk
and eggs is better because milk and eggs still come from animals. The small book, The A.B.C’s of
Feeding Your Family, by Dr Clifford R. Anderson, enables one to
choose a healthful vegetarian diet. Perhaps the longest living
race, and the most healthful people in the world, are the Hunzas,
who live in the mountains of Pakistani controlled Kashmir. They
live up to 140 to 160 years of age, free of sickness and disease.
They are vegetarians.

Deuteronomy 14:9,10 These you may eat of all that are in the
Sharks are unclean because they waters: YOU MAY EAT ALL THAT HAVE FINS AND
have no scales.
SCALES. And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall
not eat; it is unclean for you.

The only foods to be eaten from the sea are fish with both fins and scales. This eliminates shellfish,
crabs, lobsters etc.

Deuteronomy 14:11-20 All clean birds you may eat. But these you shall not eat: the eagle, the
vulture, the buzzard, the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe and
the bat. Also every creeping thing that flies is unclean for you; they shall not
be eaten. YOU MAY EAT ALL CLEAN BIRDS.

Here is a long list. The birds allowed for food seem to be limited to fowl, turkey, duck, goose and
dove.

3
 Truth For these Times – Lesson 17. Healthful Living

1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you EAT OR DRINK, or whatever you do, DO ALL TO
THE GLORY OF GOD.

It is not what goes in the mouth, but what comes out of the
mouth that defiles a man. His sinful actions and words
condemn him. Nevertheless the type of food a man uses can
have a definite affect upon his temperament. For example,
take alcoholic beverages – these cause unworthy behaviour in
man. We cannot glorify God when we partake of such things.

Proverbs 20:1 WINE IS A MOCKER, Strong drink is

a brawler, And whoever is led astray
by it is not wise.

Those who partake of alcoholic beverages are most unwise.

Proverbs 23:29-32 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has
complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine.
DO NOT LOOK ON THE WINE WHEN IT IS RED, when it sparkles in the
cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and
stings like a viper.

When the wine has become alcoholic – keep away from it. The results disastrous, physically,
socially and spiritually – not to mention the affect on home and family.

Habakkuk 2:15 WOE TO HIM WHO GIVES DRINK TO HIS NEIGHBOR, pressing him to
your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness!

God is not only against the drinking of strong drink, He opposes those who make it available to
others – the pushers.

1 Timothy 5:23 No longer drink only water, but USE A LITTLE WINE for your stomach’s
sake and your frequent infirmities.

Many use this verse as an excuse to drink alcoholic liquors.

Notice first of all that it is suggested for medicinal
purposes, and not for pleasure. Those who use this text as
an excuse, usually do not need such medicine. The second
point is that it is a gross assumption to suggest that this
wine is alcoholic. Unfermented grape juice is called wine in
the Bible. Only the context helps us differentiate between
the two. It seems most unlikely God would condemn
alcohol so strongly in the Old Testament, and condone it in
Fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts form the the New Testament. The fact is; the water in many of these
basis of the best diet. countries was not good for drinking. The same situation
exists today. Therefore it was safer for Timothy to drink
grape juice than water.

4
 Truth For these Times – Lesson 17. Healthful Living

TEA AND COFFEE

Although tea and coffee are not mentioned in the Bible, the principle still applies. Tea and coffee
contain no nourishment, but a drug is present – caffeine. This is a stimulant, and is detrimental to
the nervous system. We cannot glorify God in what we drink while we partake knowingly of this
drug. The same principle applies for all drugs unless they are used medicinally.

SMOKING

The Bible does not refer to smoking, simply because it was not practiced then. Again the principle
applies. One who smokes tobacco, defiles the body, because cigarettes contain approximately 30
poisons and the drug nicotine, which stimulates then paralyses the nervous system. Like most
drugs, it is addictive. There is no justification for this practise. There is no food value in tobacco.

1 Corinthians 3:17 IF ANYONE DEFILES THE TEMPLE OF GOD, GOD WILL DESTROY
HIM. For the temple of God is holy, WHICH TEMPLE YOU ARE.

God’s message is clear. If we knowingly defile our bodies we bring condemnation to ourselves. We
have the solemn responsibility of eating, drinking, acting and worshipping in a way that will bring
glory to the name of God. The Christian therefore, has an obligation to care for his body. Dear
friend, will you determine this day that whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, you will do
all to the glory of God?

5
 Review Sheet – Healthful Living
Assignment: Read the Bible study carefully before answering the following questions.

1. What physical benefit did John wish for the followers of Christ? 3 John 2
That you may prosper in all things and .

2. How sacred is the body as far as God is concerned? 1 Corinthians 6:19,20

Do you not know that .

3. What are the eight main rules to follow for good health?
1. 2. ,
3. 4. ,
5. 6. ,
7. 8. .

4. How does the Bible describe man’s original diet of fruits, nuts and grains? Genesis 1:29
I have given you and every tree .

5. After man sinned, how does the Bible describe the addition of vegetables to man’s diet? Genesis 3:18
And you shall eat .

6. After the flood destroyed most vegetation, what was man permitted to eat? Genesis 9:3,4
Every moving thing .

7. What are the clean animals God allows to be eaten? Deuteronomy 14:3-8
Every animal with … and that chews .

8. What fish does God permit man to eat? Deuteronomy 14:9,10

You may eat all that have .

9. What birds are permitted for food? Deuteronomy 14:11-20

You may eat .

10. What warning is given in the Bible concerning alcoholic drinks? Proverbs 20:1
Wine , .

11. What warning does the Bible give to those who make alcohol available to others? Habakkuk 2:15
Woe to him , Even to .

12. How serious does God regard the defiling of one’s own body? 1 Corinthians 3:17
If anyone , .

Is it your determination to eat, drink, and act to the glory of God? .