8 Scriptures on Health & Nutrition
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The Bible talks a lot about nutrition. Both in the nourishment and spiritual sense
Please know that I am not a pastor and write this post to start a discussion on how the bible describes food and nutrition. The scripture is quoted from various versions of the Holy Bible and the discussions of their interpretation are my own. Please leave a comment below if you would like to add your take on the verses or other verses that have inspired you on your health journey!
The Bible has a lot to say about every aspect of our life. I have often heard it referred to as the “Life Book” or “Guide to Life.” The answers to just about all of life’s questions are there somewhere. Let’s talk about some of the best verses relating to health and nutrition. The authors often referred to food as one of the many gifts from God but also as a metaphor for the Lord’s strength and almightiness. Lets take a deeper look into some of these verses.
Colossians 2: 8-10
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Here the author is describing how the desire for fullness is a humanly desire. We often look to food as a means of fulfillment. Some use food to fill a physical hunger while others use it for comfort. The Lord wants us to seek him as our source of fulfillment and he will provide the earthly (food) nourishment we need. When we change our mindset to that of seeking the Lord and knowing that our physical needs will be met, our psychological desire for food and addictions to food and other substances CAN BE OVERCOME.
1 Corinthian 6:12-13
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
This passage is actually talking about sexual immorality but the concept of being ruled by something earthly is the same. The Lord wants our body to be used to worship him and treated as such. When we defile our body by either sexual immorality or addiction to food, we are not honoring Him by keeping ourselves in his likeness.
John 6:35
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
This passage is somewhat self explanatory in that the Lord will meet all of our needs when we believe in him. This includes nutritionally. By acknowledging him and giving thanks for what he has provided, he will always provide. Maybe not in the spread we have in mind or the meal we are craving, but our nutritional needs will be met.
Proverbs 23:20-21
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Over indulgence in just about anything is a sin, especially alcohol. Now, alcohol is OK in moderation. Biblical figures drank wine and Jesus even turned water into wine. However, drunkeness can lead to immoral actions and take your focus off of God. Over eating can also be a sin. Now, you might say: “Proverbs 13:25 says: The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.” God wants us to eat until we are full and enjoy the food we eat. He gave it to us to eat, by the way, but using food as an addiction or to fulfill a need other than satiety is not what He had in mind.
Romans 14: 1-4
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
God gave us all of the animals roaming the earth and the creatures of the sea as well as all the plants for consumption. What, of these, we choose to consume is between God and each person. We are not to judge each other or argue about this choice because it does not concern us.
1 Timothy 4:8
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Here, Timothy is saying that our bodies will fail at some time. Though physical training and taking care of our bodies is valuable, we must not give our appearance and physical strength all of our focus. We should focus on the Lord and our true value will happen both in our lifetime and after life.
Romans 12:1-2
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
This is one of the more well known verses when it comes to our health and fitness. Our bodies are a vessel for doing God’s work on this earth and should be treated as such. My college Anatomy and Physiology professor once said that “If you understand the intricate details of the workings of the human body, you will know there is a God.” This is so true and to have such a delicate force as a vessel for you to use is honoring. Our bodies should not be used for vanity, but maintained, nourished and taken care of with respect and mindfulness.
Matthew 5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Finally, Matthew reminds us that not focusing on our earthly desires and focusing on righteousness and holiness, is what will get our needs met.
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