Food 4 Thought: Health
June: Health | May: Spiritual Gifts | April: Sacrifice | March: Leadership
Each month the Men's Department of Holiness Tabernacle Church Of God In Christ has been given a theme to meditate on and the Food 4 Thought section will focus on each monthly theme. We believe that our responsibility is to Provide, Protect, Prevent and Procreate and the Food 4 Thought section will consist of articles that will encourage you to think, encourage you to grow, encourage you to act and encourage each man to be productive members of the Church and society.
Health
3 John 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 1 Timothy 4:1-8
Did you know that men between the ages of 18 and 44 are less likely to go to the doctor than women [source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services]? Specifically, men are 70 percent less likely to seek treatment in comparison to females. Did you know that every country with reliable health statistics reports that women live longer than men [source: National Center for Health Statistics]? As of 2010, the life expectancy of men is 5.1 years less than women. Did you know that heart disease, cancer, and accidents are the top three cause of death in Men [source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]? The first two alone make up almost 50% of the deaths in men and have two identical risk factors: obesity and physical inactivity. When it comes to prevention and early detection, men’s health often takes a back seat to women’s health.
In 1 John 3:2, the Apostle John proclaims “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” John was not only concerned about the souls of his readers, but the physical health of his readers was just as important. Health is generally an after-thought in our churches today and for many churches, there is no vision for healthy living amongst the believers. Once salvation is received, our focus immediately turns to building, strengthening, and maturing the spirit man, which is right! But this building, strengthening, and maturing rarely includes maintaining the physical man. Our souls are prospering while our bodies are dying from a lack of care. Paul poignantly asks the members at the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not 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?” Our bodies don’t belong to us, but they belong to God. Not only our spirit man, but our physical man as well, so it’s imperative that we take steps to make sure that both are prospering. We should not want God to dwell in an unhealthy, overweight, or broken down temple!
At Holiness Tabernacle, from Sunday to pastoral teaching on Thursdays, we are well fed with the Word of God. So spiritual nourishment is being handled, but we do need to take some major steps to properly nourish our bodies. Below are eight steps to healthy living as recommended by WebMD.com:
- Get a handle on your current health status. Make appointments with your doctor and dentist. Assess your activity (or lack thereof). Check your mood and energy (healthy living includes emotional wellness and adequate rest).
- Properly treat known issues. Whether it’s heart disease, diabetes, or other conditions, make sure you are maintaining the necessary treatment.
- Increase your activity. Go for a walk, hike, biking, or whatever you enjoy. Set weekly goals that are achievable. Work activity into your day (10% of something is better than 100% of nothing).
- Upgrade your diet. Add more fruit and vegetables to your diet. Add healthy snacks to your diet. Slow down and savor your food.
- Manage stress. Take time to pray when things become stressful. “Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
- Sleep better. Set a regular sleep schedule. Don’t count on weekend catch-up sleep. Turn off the TV earlier and choose to read the Bible or other interesting readings.
- Improve your relationships. Build stronger relationships with your brothers and sisters in Christ. It not only makes the Body of Christ stronger, but works in your favor physically and mentally. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25).
- Challenge your mind. Healthy brains lead to healthier lives, and minds that focus on God can be kept by Him. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3).
Healthy living IS possible! Physical exercise is worthless IF godliness is not a part of the equation (1 Timothy 4:8). Let’s begin focusing on the whole man as we make ourselves available for use by the Master. Remember, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).