Jehovah Will Sustain You

TAKE REASONABLE STEPS 

"Luke, the beloved physician," writer of the book of Acts, also traveled with Paul. (Colossians 4:14; Acts 16:10-12; 20:5, 6)  It is reasonable to believe that Luke gave Paul medical advice and rendered medical services  to him and to others in his missionary group. Why would Luke need  to do that?  Because even Paul got sick while traveling.  (Galatians 4:13) Luke could provide medical help that was in line with Jesus had said:  "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but those who are ill do." -Luke 5:31.

The Bible does not indicate where or when Luke received his medical training. It has been suggested that Paul mentioned to Christians in Colossae the role of Luke as a physician because they knew him. Interestingly , there was a medical school nearby Laodicea. In any event, Luke was not some untrained layman spouting healthy recommendations; he was a physician. That is evident both from the specific medical language that Luke used in his Gospel and in the book of Acts and from the way he focused on Jesus' healings of others.

We do not live a t a time when a fellow Christian can use "gifts of healing" to cure us. But some well-intentioned brothers give unsolicited  health recommendations. Granted, someone might simply offer general, practical suggestions. Paul did so when Timothy was experiencing stomach problems, perhaps because the local water was polluted.  (Read 1 Timothy 5:23) That, however, is quite different from trying to persuade a fellow Witness to use some herb, remedy, or diet that may not be effective or in some cases may even be harmful.  At times, some have tried to persuade others with an explanation:  'My relative had a similar disease, and he took . . .Then he got well.' No matter how sincere the suggestion, we do well to keep in mind that there may be risks even with widely used medications and treatments. -Read Proverbs 27:12. 

Next time: Jehovah Will Sustain You/THE WISDOM OF CAUTION

From The Watchtower magazine