A vital issue many of our brethren obviously neglect is the need to take proper care of their bodies! Many among us are needlessly sick, run down or "in the dumps" emotionally.
Since we are powerfully influenced by how we feel each day, the degree of health we maintain has a very important effect on how much we can serve God, serve others and genuinely enjoy life on a consistent basis. Part of the "abundant life" we should enjoy (John 10:10) certainly includes having reasonably good health. Of course, a few are born with significant deformities or unusual ailments of various kinds. These problems, in many cases, may only be solved by God's divine intervention. But the vast majority of us have both the opportunity and the responsibility to build and maintain good health, which will enable us to better serve both God and fellow man.
God inspired the Apostle Paul to write: "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20). We do this not just by refraining from evil, but by living according to the physical laws and principles of good health. Many years ago I wrote a booklet entitled, The Seven Laws of Radiant Health. Many of you older brethren probably read that booklet. Several members have encouraged me to rewrite or update that booklet and publish it again. Thus far I have refrained from doing so, because so many books, articles and entire magazines about healthful living have been published since that booklet was first written.
However, I have noted that very few, if any, of these publications explain all seven of the basic health laws in brief, understandable language. So I may, after all, bring this booklet up to date and republish it not only for our own membership, but for the hundreds of thousands of people now reading our publications.
Still, very briefly, I want here to exhort you dear brethren about the importance of doing your part to build and maintain good health. Please remember, of course, to consult with a qualified health care professional before beginning any exercise plan. Here are a few of the key principles of health you should know and act upon:
1. Be vigilant in your diet! The importance of maintaining a good diet cannot be overemphasized. God's laws of clean and unclean meats (mentioned in Leviticus 11) are vital. But above and beyond these, we all need to understand the fundamental principle that God's creation was "good." Whenever man has tried to "improve" on God's creation, the result is usually inferior or even disastrous! When man has tried to mess with the whole grains God created, by manufacturing soft and "pretty" white bread, the natural B-vitamins and other elements are nearly always removed from the wheat. Then the manufacturer may "add" artificial vitamins, which often do no good whatsoever. This principle is true throughout the entire food chain. You must learn to understand this in order to grasp the kind of diet you should follow.
In general, try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables while they are fresh. Eat lean meats sparingly—along with fish and chicken from natural sources. And try to eat a balanced diet—including all the main food groups about which so much has been written. People who go off on some new "wacky" diet, which often includes leaving out most of an entire food group, usually get into trouble. Problems may not show up at once, but eventually they will. So try to be balanced in your approach to diet. But stress the "natural" as best you can—and, when possible, select fresh fruits or vegetables that you genuinely know are fresh, and good meats that are from animals that have been properly cared for and properly butchered.
2. Get proper sleep and rest! Countless articles have come out in recent years documenting that millions of Americans and West Europeans are so involved in their careers and activities that they simply do not get proper sleep and rest. Normally, most of us should get at least seven or eight hours of sleep in bed. You may think that you are getting by on a lot less, but in most cases this lack of sleep will "catch up" with you later. Many studies have shown that even the human brain does not function properly unless you get enough sleep. So your Bible study, your prayer life and your ability to think clearly and alertly will certainly suffer if you do not get the proper sleep and rest.
3. Maintain a regular exercise program! Frankly, millions of people are simply too lazy to get enough exercise! That is quite a charge, I know, but you need to think about it if you want to be in genuinely good health.
Even the Son of God, when He came as a human being to this earth, took time to exercise regularly. You may not have thought of it that way, but Jesus could have charged around the Middle East on horseback or on a chariot if God had so ordained. However, as the Bible points out: "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him" (John 7:1). Again and again, you read about Jesus, the Apostle Paul and God's other servants walking dozens and scores of miles on a pretty regular basis. What a wonderful way to get exercise—as nearly all authorities have pointed out.
Regular walking—mixed in with some jogging or running for those who are younger and capable, with a regular routine of calisthenics or light weight-lifting exercise thrown in for balance—can contribute greatly to building and maintaining good health.
Those who sit around all day, drive their cars to the local corner store and avoid exercise at every opportunity—whether wittingly or unwittingly—may be setting themselves up for obesity, stroke, high blood pressure, a heart attack or other ailments more than they may realize! It is not a waste of time to exercise to the full degree that you are able!
Instructing the evangelist Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote: "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Several Bible commentaries acknowledge that the Greek expression that bodily exercise profits "a little" actually means "for a little while." The verse goes on to say that "godliness" has promise of "the life that now is and that which is to come." The way the verse is worded, and the way the Greek expression is stated, make the point that bodily exercise definitely profits—though only during this life—whereas godliness profits forever. Since you and I are now living "in this life," we should appreciate the importance of exercise. For in our age of laziness and sloth, of driving cars instead of walking, of taking the elevator instead of climbing steps, of having all the "labor saving" devices we now have available—how much more should we require exercise than the people of Paul's day! Think about it!
A recent feature article in the Wall Street Journal clearly explained that exercise is a vital tool in fighting the growing incidence of "depression" which is extant in the lives of millions of people:
"Prozac and its competitors have spawned best-selling books, racked up sales of more than $10 billion annually and reshaped the clinical treatment of depression.
"But an altogether different treatment that shows tremendous promise in alleviating depression has gone largely unnoticed. That treatment is exercise. A growing body of medical literature, including at least three 2005 studies, is showing that aerobic routines as well as weight lifting are effective at combating depression. In addition to the famous 'runner's high,' or endorphin surge that provides a temporary mood lift following a workout, the studies show that there is a round-the- clock relief that sets in several weeks after the establishment of regular exercise routine.
"A study in the January issue of the Journal of Preventive Medicine suggested that a half-hour a day of exercise six days a week—which is the amount the federal government recommends for all Americans— might be ideal" (Wall Street Journal, May 10, 2005).
So, no matter how old you are, be sure to get a proper amount of exercise— a sensible amount according to your age and physical condition. I, personally, am still exercising regularly by walking, running and lifting light weights at the YMCA nearly every day. If I can do this at age 75, I am sure most of you can do likewise if you will get moving and take action in this vital area! You can lose weight, be in better health, and even have a more positive mood through a regular exercise program.
4. Learn to think positively! The "power of positive thinking" is of absolutely vital importance! Please think carefully about the following saying, for it is absolutely true: "It's not what you are eating that is bothering you; it's what's eating you!"
In our society, with all of the mental and emotional quirks people get into, there is a great deal of depression not only from lack of exercise, but from thinking negatively, dwelling perhaps too much on problems over which we have no control—and, of course, lack of contact with God's outdoors creation and with God Himself in our modern, secular, mechanized society. So we must all learn, through God's Spirit within us, to develop the habit of seeing the bright side of things—of thinking positively. For our emotions and moods certainly do have a powerful effect on our physical wellbeing as well as our emotional state.
The Apostle Paul was inspired to devote several verses to this very approach. He wrote: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:4–9).
Certainly, if we learn to rejoice always—even as the Apostle Paul was so positive-minded while literally in chains as he wrote this, we can persevere through all kinds of trials and tests that may come upon us. His instruction to meditate on whatever things are true, noble and pure is a powerful tool to help us think positively. Finally, in verse nine, Paul tells the brethren to think on and "do" the things they saw and heard in his life. And what an example of positive thinking the Apostle Paul was! As you read his letters, you come away with a feeling of one who had an awesome love of God and trust in his Creator and in his Savior Jesus Christ! So let us "do" likewise.
Again, the Apostle Paul is the one who wrote perhaps the most basic single verse about positive thinking in the entire Bible. For he stated: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). If we know and truly believe these words, we will always realize that every sadness, every trial, every test and even every disaster will ultimately work "for good" in our lives if we genuinely love God and look to Him as our Father.
This kind of positive thinking can help us build our physical health, our mental health as well as the spiritual strength that will enable us to serve our Creator and fellow man—now and forever.