Health care is a significant concern for everyone, and good health should be a priority in our lives. Despite its importance, it seems that sickness was notably prevalent among attendees at recent gatherings, highlighting a need for greater focus on well-being. In earlier times, good health was given much attention, though over the years, it has been increasingly neglected, with those who pursue it often seen as overly particular or unbalanced. Yet, maintaining good health is crucial, as it intertwines with spiritual well-being; when the physical suffers, so does the spiritual, and improvement in one benefits the other. Good health enables us to express godly love by preparing us to focus on others rather than ourselves. To achieve better health, several steps are necessary. First, rethink your attitude toward health, rejecting the cultural notion that nothing can be done or that health is predetermined by ancestry. God's purpose is to align us with His laws for a full and abundant life, and just as the body begins to repair itself upon quitting harmful habits, positive change is possible. Second, educate yourself on health principles, avoiding the trap of endless conflicting information by focusing on general, balanced resources and studying your own body's specific needs and tolerances. Third, be patient, recognizing that recovery from poor health takes time and cannot be achieved through quick fixes, but diligent and patient effort will yield results. The typical diet often includes too much sugar, salt, refined grains, meat, fat, and alcohol, while lacking in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, exercise, pure water, and self-control, leading to widespread issues like obesity and related diseases. Preserving health is a duty, akin to physical morality, aligning with the call to glorify God in our bodies and spirits. Let us commit to working on our health more seriously to present ourselves in a way that honors Him.

Taking care of our physical bodies is a significant responsibility because we belong to God and are integral parts of the body of Christ. This duty falls upon us with greater intensity than on those who are not part of this body. Our bodies are the dwelling place of God, and we must consider how we maintain them with the same reverence that would be given to a physical temple. This stewardship is not merely spiritual but encompasses both spiritual and physical aspects. We are not our own; we have been bought with an awesome price to establish a relationship with Him who paid it. Debauching the body through sin, whether spiritual or physical, threatens the continuation of this relationship. Keeping ourselves healthy is an aspect of holiness. Offering our healthy bodies to God is a spiritual service, and maintaining good health promotes the strengthening of the relationship with Jesus Christ. The care of our bodies falls within the parameters of stewardship, akin to handling that which is least or belongs to another, yet it remains a major responsibility. Taking care of our bodies has strong spiritual overtones, tied directly to growing, overcoming, achieving purity of life, avoiding pitfalls, living abundantly, and serving as a witness for God. Neglecting physical care while focusing on avoiding other sins is a mistake; it does matter and requires diligent attention. Good health is extremely valuable, though poor health can be overcome in the pursuit of success. It is not an inherent right, and feelings of victimization due to health conditions do not aid in overcoming challenges. Ancestry plays a role in the health we inherit at birth, as the effects of sins are passed on to following generations. We are also born into a culture that influences our perspective on health, often mixing good and evil, which can lead to feelings of helplessness in effecting change. Despite this, faithfulness in responsibilities, including health, ensures that God adds what we lack and rewards sacrifice. God allows no one to be a loser who is faithful in their duties to Him. Illness, whether mental or physical, may have spiritual causes and is not always the result of personal or ancestral sins. Regardless of the cause, good can be done, and God can be glorified in the situation. Our responsibility is to glorify God in our body and spirit, approaching health challenges with a positive outlook on how to honor Him within our circumstances. Trust in God, awareness of His presence, and contentment in our lot, even in infirmity, strengthen us spiritually and keep us humble and dependent on Him for daily strength.

God requires us to maintain good health as part of our stewardship responsibility. We are to dress and keep, to build and beautify in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, reflecting the image of God as a Creator who perfects. In contrast, the adversary promotes decay, disease, and destruction, fostering degeneracy and filth of mind, body, spirit, and environment. There is a clear parallel between physical and spiritual health, where cleanliness is vital in both realms. Filth, whether physical or spiritual, defiles and endangers health, and spiritual filth can lead to physical disease. Sanitation is a significant focus in God's instructions, with numerous passages emphasizing cleanliness through laws on quarantine, containment of disease, and personal hygiene. These principles extend beyond personal care to industries like meat packing and food processing, where poor sanitation can lead to infections such as E. Coli, a direct result of inadequate handling or inspection. The ideal of food purity is challenged by modern systems that rely on chemical preservatives, rendering food unclean compared to God's original intent for our health. The guidance is to seek foods as uncontaminated as possible, eating them before they spoil. Every individual is biologically unique, meaning reactions to medications, herbs, or diets vary. Health advice often deals in generalities and averages, as no one but God holds the absolutely correct answers. We must apply biblical principles toward better physical health, understanding that cleanliness promotes both physical and spiritual well-being. God has created our bodies to defend against many destructive elements, though not indefinitely, and a price is exacted on our health from daily exposure to harmful pathogens. We are encouraged to do what we can, trusting that God will add what we lack when we seek His guidance and blessing in faith.