Health-care costs have gone through the roof. Insurance premiums eat up a bigger portion of your paycheck each year. Drug costs are outrageous. And we're getting less in return, as we're a much sicker nation than we used to be (a new study just announced that we're now sicker than our British counterparts).



Obviously, the high cost of technology is partly to blame. Third-party payments from both the government and insurance play a huge part. And politics and special interests also contribute to the problem. But one reason health costs are on the rise is something few people think about. And this cause has a Biblical solution that could help you pay less in health care costs.

The reason is simple -- it's worry. Americans are worried about safety, security, and protecting what they have. They're worried about getting sick, dying young, and even living too long with no vitality. They're worried about losing their independence, losing their memory, and living in pain.

Because we're a culture of means, we readily spend our money to try and overcome our worries. The more we're willing to spend, the higher the cost of treatment goes. And that just adds to our worries.

Jesus told us in Matthew 6 that we should not worry. In verse 27, he even relates this to your physical health when he says worry won't add a single hour to your life. We could say that worry accomplishes nothing. But that's not really true. You see, worry actually has a negative impact on your health (both physically and spiritually).

Worry is a form of stress that can eat away at your ability to thrive.

In fact, a study done in 1997 found that the more you worry, the higher your risk of chronic heart disease (Circulation, 1997 Feb 18;95(4):818-24).

So how can you counteract worry and save yourself from health problems and high health care costs?

The best answer is found right there in Matthew 6. Just before Jesus tells us not to worry, He tells us not to have two masters (money and God). In other words, your dependency needs to be on God and serving Him. If you put your trust elsewhere, it will only cause problems.

Once you change your priorities back to God -- and only God -- you can move on to taking other steps that will help you live a long, healthy life. When you couple them with this dependency issue, they are possibly the most important principles you will ever read about your health.