"The health of our bodies is our greatest asset. Because when that goes, what do you have?" I recently read this quote in a newspaper article by a well intended defender of our health. This wasn't my first time to hear the sentiment. I get it. Illness is an evil to be fought against. (More correctly, illness is the result of sin, and while it is good to fight against illness, evil is our true enemy. But that is another topic...) The side of me that recoils from pain, suffering, and all the unsightliness of a body that does not operate as it was designed understands what is being said. But as I have spent many (okay, all) of my adult years struggling with my health, I can't help but be rather indignant over this well meaning yet off base idea.
Firstly, the question is insulting. (Hang with me! I am not bitter over it.) Are those who do not have health second rate citizens? I believe this to be a thoughtless and unintended insult, and so will quickly pass it by.
Secondly, I don't believe that any human being - whether the tiniest of babies in their mother's womb, the child filled with delight and energy, the young adult full of aspiration, the hard working and faithful middle-aged, the bed ridden elderly, or the variously "disabled" - is at any time in their life free from carrying out their purpose in life. As a follower of Jesus, I believe that God gave deep purpose and meaning to every human life. "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:3-5). Simply being the bearer of God's image (Genesis 1:26) marks us with great worth and purpose.
Thirdly, I believe that suffering has a purpose. Take Lazarus for example. He was a man who suffered much in an illness - so much so that he died of it. Jesus' words about Lazarus' illness and death highlight the purpose in them:
"This illness… is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (John 11:4).
"Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe" (John 11:14).
Lives were changed eternally for good because the deity, power, and life of Christ were made obvious through Lazarus. But in order to display all of this, Lazarus had to suffer and die. (Some may accuse Jesus of callously using Lazarus' suffering for His own purposes. Read the entire passage, and you will see that Jesus was cut to the heart by the death of his good friend. The same is true of our suffering, friends!)
Lastly, those who belong to the eternal Kingdom of God possess something extremely precious. Whether we have our health or not, we have Jesus! He is truly our "greatest asset."
And so, while the well meaning may be appalled at illness, I would say this. Illness does not impair a person's worth or work, nor does it take from the Christian their greatest treasure. "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39).
