God's Design for MenSample

Healthy Men

We live in an extremely health-conscious time, where endless books, websites, videos, courses, and classes exist to aid us with our physical, mental, emotional, relational, financial, and spiritual health. If we need to work on something, there are resources out there to help!

That said, in many ways, we are less healthy than ever before. North America faces an obesity crisis, numerous mental health challenges, a loneliness epidemic, unhealthy financial practices, and a culture that increasingly rejects the Lord.

But God is interested in the whole man, as today’s verses demonstrate—His desire is that our “whole spirit, soul, and body” (that is, our entire being) be kept strong and pure until the day Jesus returns.

Put another way: God wants us healthy in every area of life!

No man is perfectly so, and most of us are likely healthy in some ways and less so in others. Where we are healthy, life is good! Where we are not, we do damage to ourselves and others.

And wherever we are not healthy, as far as we are able, we have an obligation to ourselves, to our loved ones, to our churches and communities, to our workplaces, and to our God to diligently seek health and wholeness.

This might mean joining a gym or giving up some unhealthy habits. It might mean visiting with a pastor or a counselor for some mental, emotional, or spiritual assistance. It might mean seeing a doctor, financial planner, specialist, or nutritionist.

It might mean asking for help, which isn’t always easy for a man, but is sometimes the only way to true health.

Scripture doesn’t discuss Jesus, the perfect Man, in some of our modern terms, like mental or relational health. Still, even if those terms are newer, we see a Man with no physical health issues, a strong relational network, emotions under control, resilient mental health, and a deep and abiding spiritual connection to His heavenly Father and other people of faith.

If He can do these things, so can we.

Men are at their best when their whole spirit, soul, and body are healthy and strong. The entire man thrives when these things work well together on every level.

God’s design for men is that we would be healthy for ourselves, for our loved ones, for our purpose, and for Him. Seeking health in all areas of masculinity is the mark of a mature man.

Prayer: Father, thank You for creating me in body, soul, and spirit. I want all areas of my life to be thriving and healthy in You! Please give me the grace and show me the strategy to remain healthy where I am healthy, and to become healthy where I am not. Amen.

Reflection: Which areas of your life would be most healthy right now? What about the least healthy? What is one step you can take towards greater health this week?