Scholarship And Other Occupations
24 Scholars must have time to study if they are going to be wise they must be relieved of other responsibilities.25 How can a farm hand gain knowledge, when his only ambition is to drive the oxen and make them work, when all he knows to talk about is livestock?26 He takes great pains to plow a straight furrow and will work far into the night to feed the animals.
27 It is the same with the artist and the craftsman, who work night and day engraving precious stones, carefully working out new designs. They take great pains to produce a lifelike image, and will work far into the night to finish the work.
28 It is the same with the blacksmith at his anvil, planning what he will make from a piece of iron. The heat from the fire sears his skin as he sweats away at the forge. The clanging of the hammer deafens him as he carefully watches the object he is working take shape. He takes great pains to complete his task, and will work far into the night to bring it to perfection.
29 It is the same with the potter, sitting at his wheel and turning it with his feet, always concentrating on his work, concerned with how many objects he can produce.30 He works the clay with his feet until he can shape it with his hands then he takes great pains to glaze it properly, and will work far into the night to clean out the kiln.
Footnotes
A Merry Heart Does Good Like A Medicine
Proverbs 17:22 tells us, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
We can think of no better embodiment of this saying than when it comes to caregiving. Heres a closer look at why embracing happiness — even amidst some of lifes greatest challenges — is an invaluable pursuit.
The Best Medicine?
Weve all heard the expression laughter is the best medicine. Think its just a pithy adage? Think again. In fact, a breadth and depth of research tell us that laughter has profound psychological and physiological benefits.
For starters, laughter is a powerful form of stress relief which works in a number of different ways, including increasing endorphins released by the brain decreasing your stress response and alleviating tension, according to the Mayo Clinic. And not just in the moment, either, but with long-term payoffs. From improving your mood and increasing personal satisfaction levels to boosting the immune system and even relieving pain, laughter is an easy, inexpensive, and efficient healing technique.
Adds The Independent, Laughter, humor, and happiness play a key role in good health and longevity, and can positively affect diseases and conditions as diverse as high blood pressure, flu,heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. It can even help you live longer!
Laughter and Caregiving
What Does The Bible Say About Healthcare
Scripture tells us to take care of our bodies. Taking care of the body that the Lord has given you is another form of honoring the Lord. It is revealing a heart that is grateful for what God has given them. You want to be prepared physically to do whatever God calls you to do.
4. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 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.
5. Luke 21:34 Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap.
6. 1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
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What Does The Bible Say About Touching Breasts
But after the recreation of my human spirit, I came across Proverbs chapter 5:18 and 19. Proverbs 5:18b says and rejoice with the wife of your youth. Verse 19b says, Let her breast satisfy you at all times. This scripture does not say that it is the breasts of only a young girl that gives a man satisfaction.
What Does The Bible Say About Medicine
The work of Gods brains aptly describes modern medicine. I have worked on my health with the great help of a medical community. Due to medical studies, there have been enormous advances in healing however, many medical procedures and medicines come with a high-risk factor. We know this from our friends and loved ones personal experiences with modern medicine in addition to published research reports. How do we deal with the dilemma of choosing how to use medical intervention to care for our bodies?
During Jesus ministry on earth, someone in the crowd asked him for advice on eating meat offered to pagan idols. . Jesus replied, addressing this topic of putting questionable agents into our bodies:
“Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him “unclean” by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him “unclean.”‘”
Jesus, in this statement, taught his followers that a pure heart does not condemn other peoples choices about whatever is ingested into their bodies.
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How To Help A Friend Who Is Dealing With A Health Problem
Be a good listener. One of the best ways to help your friend is to listen when he wants to talk. Do not feel that you have to respond to everything he says. Often it is enough just to listen. Try to keep an open mind and avoid judging. Do not assume you know how your friend feels, especially if his illness is not outwardly noticeable.Proverbs 11:2.
Speak positively. You may not know what to say, but saying even a few words to acknowledge your friends situation will likely be more comforting than saying nothing at all. If you are at a loss for words, try saying something simple yet heartfelt, such as Im not sure what to say, but I want you to know I care. Avoid using expressions like It could always be worse or At least you dont have . . . .
You can show your personal interest by learning about the illness your friend has. He will likely appreciate your effort to understand what he is going through, and your comments will be more meaningful. However, be careful not to offer unsolicited advice.
Offer practical help. Instead of assuming that you know how to help, ask what you can do. Remember, though, that your friend may not admit that he needs help, because he does not want to be a burden. If that happens, try suggesting something practical you could do, such as shopping, cleaning, or some other task.Galatians 6:2.
Revisiting The Medicinal Plants Of The Bible And The Holy Land
Many previously described medicinal plants of the Bible do not match the flora of the Holy Land. Using modern interpretations of ancient Hebrew, Egyptian and Mesopotamian sources, the authors have reduced these potential medicinal plants to 45 species of which 20 were not previously included. Amots Dafni has extensive knowledge of the ethnobotany of sacred, ritual and medicinal plants of the Holy Land. Barbara Boeck studies ancient Mesopotamian healing therapies and medicinal plants.
The Holy Land, an area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea that also includes the Eastern Bank of the Jordan, is synonymous with the biblical land of Israel and Palestine. This was an ancient botanical crossroad, enjoying an active trade in spices, incense and medicines from Egypt to Mesopotamia and beyond. Its flora includes about 2,700 species, some of medical value.
Among the early written records of plants in this region are Egyptian medical papyri. Ebers papyrus contains 700 magical formulas and prescriptions, including the medical uses of plants. In the ruins of Assyrian Nineveh , thousands of cuneiform documents from earlier than 500 BC were found that mention over a thousand plant species. Many of the medical cuneiform texts remain to be translated.
Most of the plants in the Bible are only mentioned in passing, with reference to medicinal use occurring even less.
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Bible Verses About Medicine
Is taking medicine a sin? No, doctors and the medicine they provide are to be seen as Gods blessing. Luke who was a disciple, was a doctor as well. Taking medicine does not mean that youre not putting your trust and faith in Christ.
God can use medicine to heal us. We live by faith and not by sight. God is always behind the scenes working.
Pray that God will heal you. Trust in Him alone to help you and always remember to use never abuse.
- Prayer is the best medicine. God is the best doctor.
- God heals and the doctor takes the fee. Benjamin Franklin
What does the Bible say?
1. Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?
2. Ezekiel 47:11-12 Yet its swamps and marshes will not be healed they will be left for salt. All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine.
3.Revelation 22:2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
4. Isaiah 38:21 Isaiah had said to Hezekiahs servants, Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.
Alcohol was used as medicine.
Drugs Vs Herbs As Medicine
For 30 years Ive read that the powers-that-be could conceivably, one day, block the purchase of natural herbs and supplements, claiming them to be dangerous substances, but as one editorial wryly reminded, even the FDA will never get rid of the weeds.
Yes, believe it or not, the weeds are a gift from God and when God gives us something, no one can take it away.
The editorial goes on to say, The Bible condemns the use of poisons for medicine and labels it as sorcery, and very plainly tells us that true medicine is leaves. The common name used for medical leaves is herbs.
Ps.104:14 says that He has given us herbs for the service of man.
Almost prophetically, Thomas Jefferson gave us this warning: If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.
Remember, this statement was made about 100 years before there ever even was an FDA!Do you believe for a minute that the governments health care plan is designed to help us live longer healthier lives? Do you know how easy it is for medical universities to convince new doctors that drugs save lives?
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Should Christians Take Medication For Mental Illness
- Dawn WilsonCrosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- 201914 Aug
Editor’s Note: When Christianity.com articles address questions involving mental health issues, no part of any article should be interpreted as a substitute for seeking professional counseling from a licensed mental health professional. If you suspect you need medication or are dealing with a mental health issue, please consult with a mental health professional.
Mourning For The Dead
16 My child, when someone dies, you should mourn. Weep and wail to show how deeply you feel the loss. Prepare the body in the proper way, and be present at the burial.17 Weep bitterly and passionately observe the proper period of mourning for the person. Mourn for a whole day or maybe two, to keep people from talking, but then pull yourself together and reconcile yourself to the loss.18 Grief can undermine your health and even lead to your own death.19 Grief lingers on after the death of a loved one, but it is not wise to let it lead you into poverty.
20 Don’t lose yourself in sorrow drive it away. Remember that we must all die sometime.21 There is no way to bring the dead person back. All your sorrow does him no good, and it hurts you. Don’t forget that.22 You will die, just as he did. Today it was his turn tomorrow it will be yours.23 When the dead have been laid to rest, let the memory of them fade. Once they are gone, take courage.
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The Mind And Character Of Christ
It is one thing to say that the resolution of difficult moral conflicts can be extremely difficult, requiring the mind, the courage and the character of Jesus himself. But it is quite another to say that to disobey any of God’s laws is ever morally right.
We need like the psalmist to pray for wisdom and grace ‘I am your servant give me discernment that I may understand your statutes’.
Identification Of Biblical Plants
Most of the massive research on the identity of Biblical plant names is based on linguistics and philology . Wodarczyk reviewed how many plants are mentioned in the Bible and concluded that the list contains 206 plant names, 95 of which are recognized by all contemporary researchers of the floras of the Bible. This discrepancy is not at all surprising since most authors of books on plants of the Bible were not familiar with Hebrew and/or the Holy Land flora. For example, Duke enumerates at least 176 species as Biblical Medicinal Plants , while the total number of recognized plants in the Bible is about 100 . Needless to say, too many species of his list are not related at all to the flora in the region and were never grown or traded in the ancient Middle East. Jacob listed 55 plants as BMPs, based on a comparison to Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian literature.
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Is Mental Illness A Physical Or Spiritual Issue Or Something Else
Humans have both a body and a soul . Many mental health issues may originate in a persons psyche, but there may be a physical cause as well that perpetuates mental illness.
Pastor Stephen Altrogge says, Nothing works as God originally intended. If we treat mental illness as purely a spiritual disorder, Altrogge says, we hurt those who struggle because it points them to the wrong solution.
Medicines, at their best, are gifts from God, tools to be rendered useful to counteract some of the harmful aspects of the Fall. Its important to identify physical disorders like chemical imbalance, schizophrenia, and true bipolar disorder. Diagnosed physical disorders like these should be treated like any physiological disease, by seeking medical advice from trained physicians and following medical regimens in the way they are prescribed.
Christians often prefer a combination of approaches, allowing for medicines on a limited basis to treat symptoms, but also relying on the Lord, Scripture, and biblical counseling to work on spiritual issuessuch as struggles in the heart and emotions like fear or anxietythat might contribute to mental disorders. They believe with this multi-faceted approach, the need for medicine might diminish. However, some psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and manic depression require long-term drug use under a doctors care.
Mental illness symptoms could stem from sources other than a mental disorder.
Magic And Medicine In The World Of The Old Testament
In the ancient world, there is no clear-cut distinction between ritual/magic and medicinal uses of the same plant . Medical practices in Egypt and in Mesopotamia involved, in addition to the use of medicinal plants, rituals and incantations.
This paper does not aim at a detailed catalogue of specific uses for each plant in each civilization. Our study is limited to re-examining questions arising from the list of actual and potential medicinal plants of the Bible.
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What Does The Medical Community Say About Mental Illness
The National Institute of Mental Health says one in five adult Americans lives with a mental illness, ranging in severity from mild to severe and the World Health Organization pushes this further to one in four people.
However, biblical counseling professor Heath Lambert notes the failure of psychologists to define mental illness, especially when there is no evidence of pathology and a lack of medical precision in determining mental disorders.
Doctors normally test for physical disorders and abnormalities, but sometimes can only observe behavioral manifestationsas in the case of schizophrenia. Behavior descriptions are often subjective, and some people consider mental illness a social construct.
For example, many of the behaviors that the DSM describes are moral categories that God describes, Lambert says.
While various health agencies are quick to say mental illness is not a personal failure, mental illness is often stigmatized by the church.
Where Does The Bible Talk About Our Bodies
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. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It is an honor to have a body that is the temple of the Holy Spirit. In all its splendor, Solomons temple in Jerusalem housed the Spirit of God. The Israelites left Egypt accompanied by a tabernacle, which served as Gods temple in the Promised Land, as did the Ark of the Covenant when the Israelites marched into battle with neighboring tribes. Immediately after Jesus sacrifice on the cross, the curtain in Solomons temple in Jerusalem tore in two, signifying that we were no longer separated from Gods holiness by our sins. His Holy Spirit resides in us as redeemed Christians. As Luke 17:21 says, “the kingdom of God is within you.”
The Prophet wrote about our human temple of God with the words of Psalm 139:14: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” This verse has been a mantra for me since I was diagnosed with a severe health problem in middle age, pre-COVID. An outdoorsy, recreational type for decades, I wanted to remain active. So, I kept cross-country skiing, kayaking, and hiking with difficulty. It took accepting grace from God for me to limit these activities. As years passed, I honored my body by slowing down my activities and retiring early from work.
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