A SURGEON’S CONCERNS
Sir Thomas Sydenham was a physician who practised in London during the 17th century. He gave the following advice,
“Whoever takes up medicine should seriously consider the following points:
1) He must one day give an account of the lives of those sick men who have been entrusted to his care,
2) That such skill and science as, by the blessing of almighty God, he has attained, are to be specially directed towards the honour of his maker, and the welfare of his fellow creatures.
It is a base thing for the great gifts of heaven to become the servants of avarice or ambition.”
How easy it is for doctors to reject such thinking and to perform our medicine with ourselves at the centre. With the rapid increase in litigation against doctors it is very easy to practise defensive medicine, and only do what is legally required, and not to treat our patients as we would want ourselves or our family to be treated. However Christians have our Lord’s command on this,
“Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12 v. 31)
Unfortunately today there are many who think this is the totality of God’s command, forgetting the great commandment that Jesus reminded us of, just before this,
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Mark 12 v. 30)
We have a prime obligation to enter a close relationship with God and then to live to please him. How easy it is for a doctor, or anyone, to be so wrapped up in what others see as good work that we cease to have God’s priorities. My first concern must be to work for the honour of my maker, Jesus the Christ. Easily said, but how can I or any one do this in the rigours of a busy life?
Firstly it is essential to be absolutely clear who Jesus is. How can I give time, energy and money sacrificially if I am not certain that Jesus is my Saviour and that I will meet him when I die? St Paul saw this as a major key to helping sort people’s priorities. Thus the last verse of all chapters in 1 Thessalonians calls the readers back to remember this future meeting.
Secondly it is vital that in all dealings with other people I behave in the way Jesus would. He was involved in creating people’s bodies and minds so as a doctor I have a responsibility to care for them as well and as lovingly as he would.
Thirdly I must remember that Jesus saw people’s eternal salvation as the greatest priority of all, and he has called on all of his followers to ‘make disciples of all nations’. The story of the gospels, Acts, and the epistles makes this priority abundantly clear.
“Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.’ (2 Timothy 1 v. 8)
Didn’t Jesus himself warn us,
“If any is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory.” (Luke 9 v. 26)
I was talking to a patient who is seriously ill and asked,
“Do you have a faith that helps you at this time or aren’t you sure about these things?”
She replied “I wish I had.”
What a joy it was to explain what Jesus has done and how we know he really is ‘God in the flesh’. She was lent a copy of the book ‘Cure for Life’, that is an expanded version of the Christian Basics course that was developed in Letchworth, so that she and hopefully her family, can understand what the Christian good news is, what the superb evidence for Jesus being God is, and how anyone can obtain eternal life from him.
Surgeons may have special jobs, but we like everyone else will be called to account for our priorities. In a society that is rapidly moving away from Jesus, our creator and sustainer, it is essential that we all come out of our comfortable cocoons, stop being ashamed of Jesus, and again share with the world that he died to save us and will empower us to live with him and for him.
BVP
