Holistic Health, part six

When I was 18 years old, my dad told me, “Son, a man does what a man wants to do.” I’ve never forgotten it. It has encouraged me, again and again, to be responsible for my actions.

When we speak of the “Will” as an aspect of God’s personality, we are talking about what God does. And just as we are responsible to be like God in body, emotion, and mind, we are to be like God in our behaviors.

John 13.12-15 So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example – you should do just as I have done for you.

Our behaviors matter. As important as our bodies, emotions, and minds are, what we do is also very important.

It is very common to watch an interview with a man on the street. And when this person is asked questions like, “Do you think it’s important to take care of widows and orphans?” he says, “Yes, of course!” Why, because he believes it? No, because it is the right thing to say. How do I know he doesn’t believe it? Because if the next question is, “When was the last time you did something to care for widows and orphans”, he stutters and stumbles and shifts his feet. So does he really believe it is important to care for widows and orphans?

This is the Biblical teaching on the importance of our behaviors. Our behaviors are the evidence of what we believe.

But, specifically, what should we be doing in order to be healthy?

Well, what does the Bible teach we should do? We have already said that God’s behavior is a model for us, so there should be plenty of examples of God’s behavior.

What does God do?

• He creates (Gen. 1.1)
  
• He does righteousness (Ezra 9.15)
  
• He is kind (Gen. 39.21)
  
• He holds His charges to account (Deut. 18.19)
  
• He is gracious (Ex. 33.19)
  
• He is understanding (1 Kings 19.4-7)
  
• He is generous (Gen. 33.11)
  
• He is merciful (Deut. 4.31)
  
• He is beautiful (Is. 28.5)
  
• He is joyful (Zeph. 3.17)
  
• He is peaceful (John 14.27)
  
• He is patient (Ps. 86.15)
  

This is obviously not an exhaustive list. But it's a good start. If we can be like God in these things, we will have gone a long way.

Next time we will look at specific ways of doing just that.