2 Corinthians 9:8 And GOD is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. [Revised Standard translation]
Summary
Imagine having a house, but only focusing on one room in the house—the kitchen. Imagine it’s the only room you really spend time in or clean. It’s the only room that gets your attention. Then, imagine the state of “your house” after a few years, 10 or 20 or 30.
Or imagine having a car, but only focusing on one aspect of the car—filling the tank. You ignore the check light warning, you ignore the tires, you ignore putting on your seat belt or you even ignore when others fail to wear their seat belts too. Image the state of “your car, after 30 or so years or imagine that one day, you’re involved in an accident, even through no fault of your own! If you didn’t survive the accident, whose fault would you say it was if you ignored the safety aspects of the car?
2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us that GOD wants to provide for “you” and “me” “with every blessing in abundance.” GOD wants us to live “abundantly.” But, the human body, which GOD has provided, consists of “a number of parts.” And all the parts generally require some attention, some monitoring, and some care!
For example, consider the feet. Now imagine not ever noticing your feet. Imagine, you never wash your feet, you never cut the nails that grow on your toes, you never try to wear comfortable shoes, but instead just walked around “without shoes.” Like any part of the body that “is neglected” or not given sufficient attention, over time, things can happen. For example, ingrown toenails may start to occur, your feet may blister, you may develop corns, calluses, bunions or claws, mallet toes, athlete’s feet, a toenail fungus, or other problems. Even, if you don’t intentionally try to harm your feet, by wearing “ill-fitting shoes, the feet still have to be “monitored.”
In fact, many aspects of our bodies must be monitored. Like the nails on the feet, the nails on a person’s hands also must be monitored. Nails and hands must be cleaned, gloved, and in extremely cold temperatures glove or, when handling harmful solvents, protected. If not properly monitored, problems can occur. Untreated cuts can cause infections. The hand should be examined for “changes in their condition,” such as lack of strength, muscle weakness, or joint pain. The hands, like almost every other body part, need examination, exercise, and strengthening.
And it’s the same with “the teeth,” “the hair,” “the heart,” and other body parts. Each body part deserves a certain amount of attention for “it to function properly” and to often avoid problems, especially as the body ages.
GOD wants to bless every single body abundantly, but we inhabitants of these bodies must do our part as well.
The Physical Body
What does “proper” monitoring look like? If you ask those in the medical professions, they might say:
- Yearly physical checkup- With proper screenings.
- For women, this may include mammograms, colonoscopies, seeing a gynecologist at least yearly, depending on your medical history and condition, to get a pap smear, a breast examination, or physical examination.
- For men, this may include a testicular examination, prostate screening, and colonoscopies.
- For both men and women, cholesterol checks, blood pressure checks, height, and weight checks, review of exercise activity, diet, and emotional well-being or mental health checks may occur. Other reviews might occur, including medication checks, a colorectal examination, stool or urine samples reviewed
- A dentist might add, yearly dental check-up (for cavities, gum disease, etc.), dental cleanings every six months, x-rays
- An optometrist might add further examinations and monitoring, including yearly eye and vision examinations, tests for glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye diseases and problems.
- Hearing tests may need to be performed.
- Vaccinations may need to be reviewed or performed.
- Other specialists (vascular disease specialist, heart disease specialist, pulmonary disease specialist, gerontologist, neurologist, rheumatologist, or other experts might have other check-ups or screening tests.
- If a person has smoked cigarettes, been exposed to dangerous substances (e.g. asbestos) other tests may be ordered.
- Every child should have a pediatrician or similar monitoring.
See WebMD's, “Checkups and Tests You Shouldn’t Miss, A-Z Guides > Getting Ready for Your Doctor’s Appointment,” https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-checkups-needed
See also, “Annual Physical Exam Check-list by Age,” https://plushcare.com/blog/annual-physical-exam-checklist//
The Spiritual Person
Focusing on just a person’s physical body is like having a two-story house and acting as if there is only a “downstairs” and no “upstairs.” A person’s spiritual well-being is just as important as a person’s physical well-being.
Consider asking GOD to perform a spiritual check-up on you. Read scripture and see what GOD is saying to you. For example, read:
- 2 Timothy 2:15 – Work hard so GOD can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman [i.e., worker], one who does not need to be ashamed when GOD examines your work. Know what HIS WORD says and means. [Living Bible translation.]
- 2 Corinthians 9:11 Yes, GOD will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take our gifts to those who need them, they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to GOD for your help. So, two good things happen as a result of your gifts----those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to GOD. Those you help will be glad not only because of your generous gifts to themselves and to others, but they praise GOD for this proof and that your deeds are as good as your doctrine.
- 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. [Living Bible translation.]
- Philippians 2:1-3 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interest but also to the interests of others. [New International translation.]
Meditate on GOD’s WORD. Pray about GOD’s WORD. Ask yourself what you should do or what you think GOD wants you to do. Ask yourself how you fit into “The Body of CHRIST,” the church.
Do Your Part Yes. GOD wants each of us to live abundantly, but we also have to do our part! We can’t pray for good health and then never exercise or refuse to eat a well-balanced diet.
So, do a physical health checklist review. Then do a spiritual review. Pray for your family, pray for your community. Pray for those in your ministry. If you don’t already have a ministry, pray and ask GOD or speak to your church leaders about what you should do. Pray, pray, pray. Start exercising your spiritual connection to GOD---daily, hourly, constantly, and without ceasing. See, 1Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Today let us recommit to the goal of striving for greater physical and spiritual fitness. Let us remember---GOD wants us to live abundantly! We are all in this together (with GOD) and (with each other).
Do your part! Have faith and know, GOD will always do what GOD says GOD will do.
Believe! Don’t settle for less! Go for the physical and spiritual “gold”---abundant living!
Live an ABUNDANT LIFE and BE BLESSED!
