He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.  Proverbs 18:9 AMP

He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer.

When it comes to our work and our responsibilities – whether it is for ourselves (our own business or family) or for a boss – we must be faithful, diligent and hard working. If we aren’t, then the Bible says that we have the same impact as a vandal, or a person who actively works to destroy rather than build. Now, few of us plan to mess things up deliberately, but we need to realize that if we are lazy, unfocused, unfaithful, neglectful, and/or procrastinators, then we are having an actively negative effect on the areas of responsibility that are ours! Proverbs 25:19 AMP says that, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint.”

A lot of people like to just coast along, looking busy, looking like they are contributing, meanwhile they are allowing others to pick up the slack and carry an extra burden. People do this at work and at home. In a family, you might have one of the couple – the husband or the wife – picking up more than their fair share of the family responsibilities because the other person neglects or refuses to do their part. This is never a successful strategy in the long term. The family is going to be unbalanced and lacking. Eventually it will fall apart, one way or another. The destruction that is caused will manifest in either the marriage failing and/or the children growing up dysfunctional. Ecclesiastes 9:18b says that, “One sinner destroys much good.” One person can make a big difference – positively or negatively. Don’t be the one who ends up destroying a lot of good because you are lazy and irresponsible. Ask the Lord to help you do what’s right every day in your work and your family responsibilities.

Proverbs 10:4 AMP – He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

He who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.
[This sentence is added to Proverbs 18:9 in the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament).]

It is our own responsibility to walk in good health to the best of our ability! The Lord expects us to trust in Him first and only, but He also expects us to work with Him to accomplish His will. God’s will for you is God’s word to you. He has let us know what He wants for us – He laid our sins, our sickness, our disease, our torment, and everything else that’s from the pit of hell, on Jesus! He doesn’t want us sick, diseased or tormented. He wants us healthy and well – spirit, soul and body!

Some people trust only in man – doctors – for their healing, but God wants us to first trust Him! When doctors can no longer help you, you’ll need a miracle from God. However, this scripture says that you must use your own endeavors to heal yourself. What does that mean? That means that you must do everything you can in the spirit and everything you can in the natural! God’s best for you is not for you to neglect your health and then just run to a doctor for a pill or to a minister for a prayer. You need to take care of your body: you need to eat healthy foods and avoid unhealthy ones; you need to get up and move your body – exercise or go for a brisk walk; drink water; get enough sleep; take a regular vacation or a have rest from your usual routine; laugh often; decide to enjoy your life; don’t hold grudges; forgive; choose peace; have a positive attitude; regularly do something nice for someone else. Educate yourself concerning prevention of disease by eating healthy, going to a natural health practitioner – if necessary – and by living a healthy lifestyle.

Use your endeavors to heal yourself – take an active part in your own health and well-being.

Some people refuse to go to doctors because they have the mistaken belief that God will not heal them if they go to a doctor. Or they equate going to doctors with doubt and unbelief. This is simply not true. We cannot and should not put our trust in man or in doctors, but we must do what we can to save and preserve life – especially if it is for someone else, like our children. If your children are sick or hurt, then pray first, but if the situation warrants intervention, then by all means take them to the doctor. It’s not a sin to get help. God’s best for us is prevention, rather than cure, but He wants us to live and to do our part to stay living, so we can fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives. When we refuse to do what is necessary – and also within our ability – to preserve life, then the Bible says we are “brother to him who commits suicide”!

Don’t let the devil lie to you. Do whatever you can to save and preserve life – yours or another person’s – this is God’s will for you. Here are some scriptures to feed your spirit regarding God’s will to have you healed and whole and your participation in the process:

Proverbs 3:8 AMP – It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.
Proverbs 4:22 AMP – For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 14:30 – A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.
Proverbs 15:4 – A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life, but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit.
Proverbs 16:24 – Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.
Proverbs 17:22 – A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.