The Bibles 7 Keys to Longevity

Don’t Worry Yourself Sick

Americans spend billions of dollars every year coping with stress. From popping anti-anxiety pills to paying masseurs to stroke and pummel us, much of our lives are devoted to alleviating stress. After all, research has shown that stress contributes to numerous medical conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, gastrointestinal issues and insomnia. But Jesus Christ came up with the notion of stress more than 2,000 years ago (Matthew 6:25-6:27). Urging his followers to let go of anxiety, he says: “Look at the birds of the air: that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”

Love Your Enemies

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This may be one of the hardest pieces of biblical advice to undertake, but the psychological benefits of doing so are huge. Luke 6:35 says “Love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Leviticus 19:17,18 also states “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people.” Hatred hurts the hater far more than the hated. Will turning yourself into a non-hater require work? No question. It asks that we cultivate an awareness of our emotions in the present moment that’s rare. Yet the benefits in terms of lowered stress, increased happiness and overall contentment make the effort worthwhile.

Mind-Body Connection

Proverbs stands out as the one book of the Bible that’s full of timeless common sense, including much sound advice about living to a great old age. Not surprisingly, many verses connect spiritual and physical well-being. In Proverbs 3:7-8 we are asked to “…turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.” The sentiment is touched on in Psalm 38:2 as well. “Because of your wrath there is no health in my body…My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.” So, do the right thing. Those of ill-will are beyond the healing light and will suffer from a lack of this essential spiritual nutriment. As it says in Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”