Men are 60 percent more likely to develop forms of cancer that affect both genders, and 70 percent more likely to die from the disease, British researchers found. Pretty scarry right? But the good news is that there are things we can do to improve our chances.
The differences in how men and women fare with cancer is NOT based on the biological differences between us — it’s based on how we men care for ourselves, and how much better women take care of themselves. It really brings home the lesson of Deuteronomy 4:9 which commands us to “care four ourselves diligently”.
It might take a little more effort, or in some of our cases a great deal, but the Bible already anticipated what these doctors in Britain have proved i.e. that we must be active participants in our own healthcare, and that doing so is a sacred act.
We talk about the value of prayer, the importance of religious community in the healing process and lot’s of other spiritual issues realted to health. But at the end of the day, we should remember that nothing is more sacred than all those physical acts which care for our bodies.
From eating better to excercising more regulalry, there are things we can all do to fulfill the mandate of this verse, and you don’t need to be a rabbi, priest minister, or imam to master this teaching/practice. Like the Nike ad says, just do it!