SICKNESS
I venture to
say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is
health, with the exception of sickness.
Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than
health has.
Quoted by Curtis C. Thomas, Practical
Wisdom for Pastors, Crossway Books, 2001, p. 102.
Why
do Christians get sick?
1. Some sickness comes from God (Ex. 4:11).
2. Some sickness comes from Satan (Lk. 13:11-13).
3. Some sickness is chastening for sin (Deut. 28:20-22; Psm. 119:67).
John MacArthur
Charismatic Chaos, Zondervan, 1992, p. 266, www.zondervan.com.
When
you get sick, do two things: pray for healing and go to a doctor (see Isa.
38:21).
John MacArthur
Charismatic Chaos, Zondervan, 1992, p. 268, www.zondervan.com.
1.
Sickness
helps to remind men of death.
2.
Sickness
helps to make men think seriously of God, and their souls, and the world to
come.
3.
Sickness
helps to soften men’s hearts, and teach them wisdom.
4.
Sickness
helps to level and humble us.
5.
Sickness
helps to try men’s religion, of what sort it is.
J.C. Ryle
The storms of
winter often bring out the defects in a man’s dwelling, and sickness often
exposes the gracelessness of a man’s soul. Surely anything that makes us find
out the real character of our faith is a good.
J.C. Ryle
Health is a
good thing; but sickness is far better, if it leads us to God.
J.C.
Ryle
Commentary, Matthew 15.
Sin, unwise
living, and guilt can lead to sickness; righteousness and the peace and joy of
biblical living can lead to health.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 59.
While it is
true that disease can be a result of
divine discipline and can indicate a
need for soul-searching and repentance, it is also true that disease can be
unrelated to personal sin. In fact, to say that sickness is always a result of personal sin is
actually an old heresy that goes back to Job and his counselors.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 23-24.
The only time
you have reason to suspect a connection between sin and sickness is when
repentance and faith are followed by physical healing. Even then, however,
there may have been other reasons for the alleviation of the symptoms.
Edward T. Welch
Blame
in on the Brain? P&R Publishing, 1998, p. 60.
Sickness,
when sanctified, teaches us four things: The vanity of the world, the vileness
of sin, the helplessness of man and the preciousness of Christ.
Author Unknown
Quoted by Curtis C. Thomas, Practical
Wisdom for Pastors, Crossway Books, 2001, p. 102.