"I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." — 3 John 1:2

Without a doubt, christians need to nurture their spiritual lives through prayer, fasting, Bible reading, and watchfulness. But should they also take care of their physical health? Or would that be considered heretical behavior? The truth is that the Scriptures also address the importance of caring for one's health. Here are a few examples:

Gluttony and drunkenness: God warns in the Scriptures (Proverbs 23:20 and Luke 21:34) about the dangers of gluttony (excessive eating) and drunkenness (excessive drinking).

Temple of the Spirit: The Scriptures make it clear that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and, therefore, must be cared for (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Joy as medicine: Proverbs 17:22 states that joy acts like medicine for one's health.

John wishes for good health: In his letter to Gaius, John makes it clear that he cared about and desired good health for him (3 John 1:2).

Although caring for one's spiritual life is the priority, caring for physical health is also a theme found in the scriptures. It is very important to keep both body and mind healthy.