God's Will for Living
Since the Word of God says
- life comes from God and the time of a person's life is determined by God
("He ... having determined their appointed times ... that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him ..." Acts 17:26-27);
- death is an enemy and thus is not to be embraced, even though Christ has been victorious over death, and in the future He will destroy it
("The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Cor 15:26 "... then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory ... thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 15:54, 57 KJV);
- the value of one's life is a spiritual measure (Rom 3:12);
- God is the God of hope (Rom 15:13);
- God defends and cares for the helpless and rewards those who help the helpless
("How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble." Psalm 41:1; and see Isaiah 25:4);
- each and every person should have (at the very least) care, sustenance, and protection of the body
("if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." 1 Timothy 6:8);
- we are commanded to pray that we are provided with enough food for each day
("After this manner therefore pray ... Give us this day our daily bread." Matt 6:9-11 KJV);
- things needed by the body, such as water, food, shelter, and clothing should not be withheld from those who lack them
("If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?" Jms 2:15-16 KJV) ;
- murder [which includes suicide] is forbidden (Ex 20:13); and
- God takes notice of our deeds -
He rewards those who provide for the physical, social, and emotional needs of others
("... Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ... the righteous [shall go] into life eternal." Matt 25:34-36, 40, 46 KJV),
and punishes those who do not provide for the needs of others
("... Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. ... Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment..." Matt 25:41-43, 45-46 KJV);
Thus, no person should ever be deprived of shelter, clothing, food, or water. Shelter, clothing, food, water, curative measures, curative items, and curative substances should be given to a person for the care, sustenance, and restoration of the body. Nothing should be done or used to hasten death or to make a person unaware of the situation. Instead, those who are able should help the needy to live.
"But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. "And on the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.'
"Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?"
And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him."
And Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same." Lu 10:33-37
