What is health?

“Health is an inestimable blessing” (GW 242:2), “a treasure more precious than gold” (Ed. 195:3), and thus we should “regard as sacred the health of the body as well as of the soul” (6T 302:1), and it “should be as carefully guarded as the character” (ML 144:5).

Since “we must not leave the care of ourselves with God, when He has placed that responsibility upon us” (3T 13:2), and since “he who remains in sinful ignorance of the laws of life and health, or who willfully violates these laws, sins against God” (CT 295:1 ), let us determine to follow God’s instructions faithfully so He may bless us with good health.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor. 3:16, 17.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Prov. 17:22.

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Prov. 16:24.

“Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God’s love and care–these are health’s greatest safeguard. To the Israelites they were to be the very keynote of life.”–The Ministry of Healing, p. 281:3.

“Those who are always busy, and who cheerfully go about their daily tasks, are the most happy and enjoy the best health ….”-Child Guidance, p. 342:1.

“It is the duty of everyone to cultivate cheerfulness instead of brooding over sorrow and troubles. Many not only make themselves wretched in this way, but they sacrifice health and happiness to a morbid imagination. There are things in their surroundings that are not agreeable, and their countenances wear a continual frown that, more plainly than words, expresses discontent. These depressing emotions are a great injury to them health wise; for by hindering the process of digestion, they interfere with nutrition. While grief and anxiety cannot remedy a single evil, they can do great harm; but cheerfulness and hope, while they brighten the pathway of others, ‘are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”–The Adventist Home, pp. 430, 431.

“In order to enjoy good health, we must ask the Lord to bless us, and then do what we can to place ourselves under conditions the most favorable to health.

“Scrupulous cleanliness is essential to both physical and mental health.

“Unclean, neglected comers in the house will tend to make impure, neglected comers in the soul.

“Perfect cleanliness, plenty of sunlight, careful attention to sanitation in every detail of the home life are essential to freedom from disease and to the cheerfulness and vigor of the inmates of the home.”–My Life Today, p. 128:5; 129:1, 4, 5.

“There is health and peace in doing the will of our Heavenly Father.”–My Life Today, p.246:1.

“If the youth would form habits of regularity and order, they would improve in health, inspirits, in memory, and in disposition.”-Evangelism, p. 652: l.

“We can not be too often reminded that health does not depend on chance. It is a result of obedience to law.”–The Ministry of Healing, p. 128:2.

“It is impossible to have health when the extremities are habitually cold, for if there is too little blood in them there will be too much in other portions of the body. Perfect health requires a perfect circulation; but this can not be had while three or four times as much clothing is worn upon the body, where the vital organs are situated, as upon the feet and limbs.

“Women who are in failing health can do much for themselves by sensible dressing and exercise.”–Id., p. 293:1,4.

“Were her married life agreeable, she would possess a good degree of health.” –1T 696: l.

“For their own physical health and moral good, children should be taught to work, even if there is no necessity so far as want is concerned…. The satisfaction that children will have in being useful, and in denying themselves to help others, will be the most healthful pleasure they ever enjoyed.” –Child Guidance, p. 342:3.

“Useful labor and an acquaintance with the mysteries of housework will be beneficial to your girls, and some outdoor employment is positively necessary to their constitution and health.”–Id. p. 339:2.

“Not only has the physical and mental health of children been endangered. by being sent to school at too early a period, but they have been the losers in a moral point ofview.”—Id,. p. 302:3.

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John l3:17.

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