1 Timothy 5:17-24

Be Still: Father, thank you for your kindness towards me. Please speak to me today through your Word and fill me with your Spirit. Amen

Read: 1 Timothy 5:17-24 

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. (v23)

Encounter:  Paul’s letter to Timothy is largely focused on matters of spiritual warfare, worship, church leadership and tackling false teaching. However, slotted into the back end of chapter 5 is something a little unexpected. Paul takes a break from theology and dishes out some health advice. He instructs Timothy to take a break from his 'water only' fast and drink a bit of wine to help with his stomach illnesses. 

Now, I don’t think that we should necessarily read this as divine, God-breathed medical advice. Next time you have a stomach bug you should probably still ring the doctor rather than cracking open the chardonnay. But it does speak to a rather important principle: we are physical beings as well as spiritual ones. Sometimes our problems have a spiritual solution and we need to double down on prayer and spiritual warfare; but sometimes they have a physical solution and we simply need to go to bed on time, eat well and exercise. 

I really love this little verse because it shows that God doesn’t only care about our spiritual wellbeing, but he cares about our physical wellbeing as well.  

Apply: Are you looking after yourself physically at the moment? If you’re feeling a bit rubbish mentally or physically, it could be a spiritual thing, but equally it might just be because you’re eating too much junk food and binge-watching Netflix instead of hanging out with your friends and getting some exercise. Let’s take Paul’s advice, engage in the spiritual warfare, but also 'use a little wine' for your stomach!

Devote: Thank you Jesus that you care about every aspect of me. Please help me to be healthy physically as well as spiritually.