If stress is ruling our lives, perhaps we need more Jesus.
Yesterday morning, a friend of mine posted a link to a blog on Facebook. It was titled “Take a little wine for your stomach (or how to live well in a stressful world.) It was based on 1 Timothy 5:23 which reads, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and frequent illnesses.”
Here’s a link, if you would like to read it: http://artofholiness.com/2016/04/20/take-a-little-wine-for-your-stomach-or-how-to-live-with-sinful-people/
Being someone who has coped with stomach issues caused by stress, for years, I was intrigued and not only did I read it, but I read it to my hubby too. It was a good article which had me thinking all day.
My first thought was in today’s super secular society with very little respect for God, I’m surprised some alcohol selling establishment doesn’t have the quote emblazoned in neon somewhere, touting that the Bible says we should all get sloshed for our health.
We’ve become pretty skilled these days, at making the Bible say, what we want it to say.
But, anyone who knows anything about the writer of that letter, Paul, would know that there’s no way that was Paul’s intent. Paul, however, was no stranger to the strife that goes on in churches and he was writing his young friend a letter of encouragement.
Churches are made up of broken people, kind of like gyms are often made up of people who aren’t in the best of shape, but are trying to get fit. Broken people can make us crazy and if we try to control or fix them, we are creating a ton of stress for ourselves.
The bottom line is, we can’t control or fix them.
For that matter, we can’t fix anyone in our lives, not even our own kids, spouses, or friends. We can share the truth with them. We can pray for them. We can pray with them. But, in the end, only Jesus can actually change them.
I think Paul was telling the younger man who was newer to the faith, to relax. Making himself sick over things he couldn’t control was useless, so perhaps he should drink a little wine. In other words, to chill out because God was in control.
But, then my hubby shared his thoughts about a deeper meaning and they were even better. He pointed out that wine, in Christianity, represents the blood of Jesus. Water was great and Timothy needed it to live, but to thrive and to not be riddled with stress and anxiety, which was leading to his health issues, what he really needed was more Jesus.
The same goes for us today. We tend to worry about everything, to the point of making ourselves sick. We try to fix and change people. We stress over all kinds of situations completely out of our control. We wonder if God is listening to our prayers. Is He going to help us or liberate us?
He has done even better. He sent Jesus to redeem us. Sure, a little wine may help to relax us. But, if we really want peace, we need more Jesus.
A Facebook post reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂