How To Have a Long, Healthy Life

In the month of October, the members of my Bible class will be reading one chapter of Proverbs each day. So for the next month, I'll be passing along Solomon's words, which he graciously passed along from God.

Have you ever felt stressed? Ha! I know, I know. We all feel stressed, some more than others. Research has shown that stress actually speeds up the aging process. Stress is not conducive to a long and healthy life. So what's God's remedy? Proverbs 3:1-2 says, "My son (or daughter!), do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity." In looking back to the first and second chapters of Proverbs, you will find that fearing the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Also, if you accept God's words, store up His commands, and ask Him for insight and understanding, "then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God" (Prov. 2:5). We humans don't naturally have the knowledge of God (duh!). But He does offer His understanding to us. He sees the big picture, whereas we cannot. But fearing Him, in other words acknowledging Him as God and not ourselves, allows us to glimpse what life may look like from His perspective. When you begin to see as God sees, everyday stresses become trivial and melt away...or you will at least find it easier to cope with them. And less stress means longer, healthier, and more joyful lives. Verses 7 and 8 add to this idea: "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

Do you know anyone who is a worry wart? (Maybe it's you.) He or she is always fearful of what may happen. Solomon says, "Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared" (Prov. 3:25-26). God does not want you to worry. (See also Jesus' words in Matthew 6:25-34.)

So what do you do when disaster does strike? We live in a fallen world; therefore, bad things do happen. Let's go to Job and see what he did. Satan believed that if he took all of Job's possessions, from his flocks to his children to his health, that Job would curse God. But Job never did. He certainly ranted and raved about his suffering. But Job said, "Even now my witness is in heaven, my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend" (Job 16:19-21). He also said, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth" (Job 19:15). Job lived well before Jesus did. And Israel did not know that Jesus was the Messiah when he was born and most did not ever believe he was the Christ. Yet Job somehow had access to the knowledge of God. Hmmmm. Have you ever had a thought that you know didn't come straight out of your head? That's God. Back to how to respond in times of trials and suffering. Will those situations make sense? Much of the time, no, they won't. But if you have practiced the habit of storing up God's words in your mind and heart and have accessed some of His understanding, it will be less difficult to cope in those times. If you have been following the steps given in Proverbs 2 and 3, it is much easier to follow the oft-quoted Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

So, here's to good habits, developed by the continual study of God's word, persistent pursuit of understanding and wisdom, and the resulting experience of the knowledge of God. And you know, it is said that it takes about 30 days to develop a new habit. If you're not reading the Bible daily, try reading a chapter of Proverbs a day. It just may be the beginning of real knowledge in your life.