Spiritual Health Care Plan

In a speech on May 29th, 2007 in Iowa City, Iowa, Barack Obama said, “my plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don’t have health insurance, you will have it after it becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.” (Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, May 29, 2007).

Some people may have benefited from the new health care but my insurance went up to $650 a monthly with a $5000 deductible and the next year it was going up to over $700 a month just for individual coverage. It was at that point I realized I could no longer afford health insurance. But, without health insurance few people can afford to get sick.

No one can ever afford to live without a Spiritual Health Care Program. The one God has promised really is free. Anyone can afford it. It only costs all of self (Luke 14:25ff). Everyone is eligible, because all have sinned. The quality of care is perfect.  No matter what the sin, God can forgive.

There is a stiff penalty for those who do not have this spiritual health care. Sin, left untreated, will cost a man his soul. This is why the apostle John expressed his concern for Gaius’ soul as well as his physical well-being. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (2 John 2).

During the Covid-19 pandemic most of us are concerned about our physical health and the steps we need to take stay virus free. But how about our spiritual health? What does one need to maintain a healthy soul?

A Strong Immune System

To ward off disease, one needs a healthy immune system. The soul needs a defense system against temptation, false teaching, the Devil, etc. We live in a world filled with evil and corruption. We can’t live in a bubble. We must be in the world but not of the world.

Regular Exercise

Contributing to a strong immune system is regular exercise. Physical exercise helps one to maintain weight, have less stress, increased energy, better rest, and improved mental health. Christians need to get into a spiritually fit craze. We need “prayers of steel,” “guilt be gone,” and the true Master. In fact, Paul commands us to exercise our soul: “but reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:7-8). The Philips Translation reads: “Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.”

Ephesus, like any other important city immersed in Greek culture, would sport a gymnasium where young men in particular would gather to enhance their physique by means of gymnastics. Paul uses the Greek word gumnazo to make a contrast between the benefits of physical discipline and spiritual discipline. Whereas many Greek young men trained the body, Timothy was to constantly train himself in godliness.

Two reasons are given why Timothy needs to train himself in godliness. First, bodily exercise is of little profit in comparison. This does not encourage the neglect of the body. Paul knew of the value of the body and the proper attitude Christians should have toward their bodies(1 Cor 6:19-20). “That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Second, by comparison spiritual exercise is more profitable. Bodily exercise can add years to your earthly life but cannot obtain eternal life. Physical training can help one be healthy now but it cannot directly assist a Christian in being sound in doctrine and faith.

A good spiritual workout includes, prayer, singing, meditation, studying, etc. This can be done alone our with other saints.

Periodic Rest

Healthy bodies require an adequate amount of rest to recuperate, rebuild and resist disease. Even Jesus needed times of rest. The Lord Himself took time to be alone, to pray (Lk 5:16; Mk 1:35). Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat” (Mk 6:30-31). Christ offers us rest in His great invitation. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Eat A Healthy Diet

Another key to a healthy body is a proper diet. Spiritually our food is the Word of God. We do not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God (Mt 4:4). The Lord’s words are the words of life. Jesus said,

“I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world….It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:48-51;63,68).

We grow by virtue of the pure milk of the word. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Pet. 2:2-3). We start with baby food, but move on the adult food (Hebrews 5:12-14).

Be Regular

Irregularity is a sign of poor physical health. Being regular is just as important spiritually. When our zeal is cold, our spiritual activity is low, and we have too much spiritual junk food in our diet, we will suffer. Christians need to be regular in prayer (1 Th. 5:17); in Bible study (Acts 17:11); in giving (1 Cor. 16:2); in attendance (Heb. 10:25). To be spiritually healthy we need to be in the habit of going more often.

Stay Clean

During Covid-19, people are using hand sanitizer, wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and washing their hands extra often and longer. Cleanliness is godliness or as the old saying goes “cleanliness is next to godliness.” If we are talking about spiritual cleanliness, the Bible does promote the idea. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

Since the spiritual is more important, we should put MORE effort/time into the health of our souls.

— Daniel R. Vess