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If God Numbers Our Days, Should We Care About Health?

Q: Hi Dr. E!! I would love your take on the balance between when is our “time” to die vs personal responsibility. I believe God is sovereign over everything, but then where is also the line for doing our part? For example, smokers who get lung cancer. Being overweight leads to various health issues. Our choice but also God is in control. I am someone who works out and eats clean foods most of the time. However, it can become an obsession as a way of trying to control your future. But on the flip side it is also tempting to throw in the towel and eat McDonalds every day because does it even matter in the end? I don’t want to live in fear. 

Summary

How should Christians think about health, longevity, personal responsibility, and God’s sovereignty? In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Michael Easley explores the tension between taking care of ourselves and trusting God with our lives.

The question begins with a practical concern: If God has already numbered our days, how much does our diet, exercise, or lifestyle matter? Dr. E cautions against two extremes. We can become legalistic, judging others by our standards, or licentious, using Christian freedom as an excuse for careless living.

Instead, Scripture points believers toward maturity. Dr. E draws from Ecclesiastes to emphasize enjoying the ordinary gifts God provides, including food, work, family, and the simple pleasures of life. At the same time, 1 Corinthians reminds believers that their bodies belong to God and should be treated as His stewardship.

Christian liberty also means recognizing that having the right to do something does not mean we must do it. Mature believers consider their conscience, their relationships, and whether their choices could cause another believer to stumble.

The goal is not obsessive control or careless living. It is faithful stewardship marked by wisdom, moderation, gratitude, and freedom. Christians can pursue health without fear, enjoy God’s gifts without guilt, and trust His sovereignty without abandoning personal responsibility.

Takeaways:

• Christian liberty avoids both legalism and license, calling believers toward mature and responsible freedom. Pasted text
• God gives us good gifts to enjoy, even while we live in a fallen world. Pasted text
• Our bodies belong to God, so caring for ourselves can be an act of stewardship rather than control. Pasted text
• Having the freedom to do something does not mean we always need to exercise that freedom. Pasted text
• Maturity considers how our choices affect other believers instead of focusing only on our personal rights. Pasted text
• Trusting God’s sovereignty does not mean living haphazardly or ignoring personal responsibility.

Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here.

If you’ve got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.