Who should pay for one's medical needs?

1.  The government.

2.  The church.

3.  Oneself.

I know most people know the answer to this one.  But what happens when that one hasn't saved for whatever reason and there is no money to meet a medical need? 

Of course that is when people, God's people, meet needs.  A church doesn't even need to officially step in. 

I think, in the long run, it behooves an individual and certainly a family to have a preventative mindset when it comes to needing money.  We choose to birth at home and treat illnesses at home not because we don't have insurance, but because we believe we are equipped to deal with these things on our own.  However, when they are out of the scope of what we can handle, like surgery, we don't want the church to pay for us while we are spending money on organic food and taking trips.  We all make choices in what we spend on.  I'd like to think that if we've made no provisions for that unexpected medical need that we would be willing to go into debt rather than burden a church family on account of our lack of foresight.

If we didn't have military insurance, I believe I would be highly interested in Samaritan Ministries because it is based on biblical principles.  People who want to be helped are contributing today so that there is money to pool from if and when they need that help.  They are already helping other people even before their own need arises, often times.

For some reason, I think when it comes to medical needs, even Christians believe it to be their right to have care.  And that one's choice and quality of care shouldn't be based on money.  But why ever not, if we are a free market society and different professions make more money depending on their value to people? 

I believe the Bible teaches that we are to take care of our health.  We are not to be like the heathen and eat whatever we want to and engage in whatever lifestyle we want to.  We are responsible for our health.  Not the government, not the church.  I think Christians should be one of the healthier people around.  Visibly healthier.  Desiring exercise and restraining from gluttony.  We shouldn't be full of the Spirit and totally indulgent in our flesh.  I am including myself because I see myself indulging when I know better.  When I don't even really want to.  But just because the temptation is there.  We should not separate the spirit from the body.  Both need to be in a healthy state.

Heath, often is, a result of knowledge and the will power to act upon it.  Not always, of course, as there are diseases that are genetically predetermined, but on the whole, healthy people are those who want to be healthy and who study to be healthy and then live in a healthy way.  On purpose.  It disturbs me greatly when I hear about those who say that it doesn't matter how one lives because there are people who live long lives with bad health practices.  Their lives may be long, but how healthy were they living it?  It's not just about the end, right?  The process should be important.  We shouldn't defile our bodies with impure foods and unclean substances.  That is one reason we reject vaccinations.  It is not a healthy thing to do with one's body.  To avoid a certain risk by taking on another is highly suspect, I believe, in the way God would have us do things.  We ought not to gamble with our lives.  But rather we are to seek God on health, both spiritually and physically.

I think while God can use us when we make poor choices regarding our finances or health, we give Him more glory when we are deliberate with everything we take in our bodies and how we spend our money.  To God be the glory.