Several years ago a young boy died of an illness because his parents refused to call a doctor. They believed that to use medicine implied a lack of faith in God. After the boy's death, they said, "It is God's will."

In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul advised Timothy to take wine for his stomach's sake and for his "frequent infirmities." Bible scholars aren't sure what Timothy suffered from. Some say he had a nervous condition. Others say that Paul advised wine as a substitute for unsafe drinking water. Whatever the problem, Paul was recommending that Timothy take wine as a remedy for a physical or emotional condition.

Earlier Paul had told Timothy that every created thing is good and is not "to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer" (1 Tim. 4:4-5). This assures us that God approves of our using available means to promote health, including medicine. But there is one important requirement: We must pray about it and receive it with thanksgiving.

How grateful we can be for medical advances that improve the quality of our lives and give us more years to serve Him! But let's always remember that with or without medicine, God is the source of all healing.  — Dennis J. De Haan