Topical Bible: Sickness: Often Brought on by Intemperance

◄ Sickness: Often Brought on by Intemperance ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Sickness, as depicted in the Bible, is frequently associated with spiritual and moral dimensions, including the consequences of intemperance. Intemperance, or lack of self-control, can manifest in various forms such as gluttony, drunkenness, and other excesses, leading to physical ailments and spiritual decay.

Biblical References to Intemperance and Sickness

The Bible provides numerous examples and warnings about the dangers of intemperance. Proverbs 23:20-21 cautions, "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags." This passage highlights the physical and social consequences of overindulgence, suggesting a link between intemperance and resultant hardships, including sickness.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of self-control as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 : "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." The absence of self-control can lead to behaviors that harm the body, which is considered the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Historical and Theological Context

Throughout biblical history, the Israelites were given dietary laws and guidelines to promote health and holiness. Leviticus 11 outlines clean and unclean foods, emphasizing the importance of dietary discipline. While these laws were specific to the Old Covenant, they underscore the principle that physical health is intertwined with spiritual obedience.

Theologically, sickness resulting from intemperance can be seen as a natural consequence of living outside God's design for human behavior. The Bible often portrays health as a blessing from God, contingent upon living in accordance with His will. Deuteronomy 28:15-22 lists curses, including diseases, that would befall the Israelites if they disobeyed God's commandments, illustrating the connection between spiritual fidelity and physical well-being.

Practical Implications for Believers

For believers, the call to temperance is both a spiritual and practical mandate. The Apostle Paul advises in 1 Corinthians 9:25 , "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable." This metaphor of athletic discipline serves as a model for Christians to exercise self-control in all areas of life, including health and wellness.

Moreover, the Bible encourages believers to seek wisdom and understanding, which includes making prudent choices about their physical health. Proverbs 3:7-8 states, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones." Here, the pursuit of godly wisdom is directly linked to physical health.

Conclusion

While sickness can have various causes, the Bible clearly warns against the dangers of intemperance and its potential to lead to physical and spiritual harm. Believers are called to live lives marked by self-control, honoring God with their bodies and maintaining the health He has entrusted to them.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 7:5
In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How Internal Livers Ought to Behave Themselves in Time of Sickness ...
... giving this account of the causes that brought him to ... I believe;' the which words
he often repeated in ... Inasmuch, therefore, as sickness is a temptation and a ...
/.../chapter v how internal livers.htm

Letter xiii. Christian Activity.
... This may be true to some extent; for intemperance has brought ruin and distress
upon many families, and ... Sickness and misfortune often bring distress ...
/.../letter xiii christian activity.htm

Heb. 4:14 Our Profession
... risk of a vast amount of trouble, and brought in very ... All these things are often
lying hid within us, and ... appear to come across them except in sickness, or at ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter xii heb 4 14 our.htm

Acts 17:16-17. Athens.
... be wakened up and brought to birth will often be as ... is most rapidly conceived, sown,
ripened, and brought to maturity ... In sickness and sorrow they have no comfort ...
/.../chapter ix acts 17 16-17 athens.htm

The Fulton St. Prayer Meeting.
... "Our pastor, after four months' sickness, preached to us ... It has looked dark very
often, and I have been in ... but again and again the Lord has brought me through ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/the fulton st prayer meeting.htm

Home Influence.
... that which is included in home-feeling and home-sickness. ... of patriotism is first
kindled, and often, too, by ... battles of his land; It hath brought the wanderer o ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter v home influence.htm

This HomilyWas Delivered in the Old Church of Antioch
... when casting this aside, they are brought forward unclothed ... fallen into the extremes
of poverty, sickness, and disease ... we should say then, as many often do, "No ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily i this homily was.htm

Acts xix. 21, 23
... (a) "For ye have brought hither," etc ... in good case, it undergoes the quickest change
to sickness: not so ... Blood, though it may be healthy in us, does often by its ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xlii acts xix 21.htm

On Redeeming the Time
... so, yet weakened by preceding sickness, he certainly ... and continually increases sloth,
so often objected to ... the difficulty which you have brought upon yourself ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 93 on redeeming the.htm

"There is Therefore Now no Condemnation to them which are in ...
... Alas for poverty, for contempt, for sickness! ... Nay, this makes me often suspect my
delivery from ... heathens spread forth their branches, and brought forth many ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon i there is therefore.htm