Nearly two thousand years ago Jesus assigned a real task to us when He said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. Preaching the gospel to every creature is such a sacred and far-reaching program that it requires the maximum effort and efficiency of every worker. Body, mind, and soul should be in optimum health. Every worker should do what he can to keep physically fit, because an unhealthy body detrimentally influences the mind and soul. Sickness, pain, distress, and weakness too frequently color the thinking, dwarf the intellect, and saturate the personality with pessimism.
Because we are too busy doing all we can in the very short time that remains, we often neglect one of God's richest blessings, our health. While fervently preaching good sermons on diet, dress, tobacco, alcohol, and other subjects peculiar to our health message, we are altogether too often guilty of violating God's natural laws regarding excesses in work, neglect of physical exercise and sleep. In so doing we reduce the effectiveness of our ministry, develop an unpleasant personality, and even ask for a premature visit by the grim reaper.
Jesus instructed His disciples to come apart and rest. Through the Spirit of prophecy He has given us detailed instruction in this matter. By using the Index to the writings of Mrs. E. G. White, we can find many interesting and helpful paragraphs. A few of these are quoted in this article.
Health and Happiness.—"The condition of the mind has much to do with the health of the physical system. If the mind is free and happy, under a consciousness of right-doing and a sense of satisfaction in causing happiness to others, it will create a cheerfulness that will react upon the whole system, causing a freer circulation of the blood and a toning up of the entire body. The blessing of God is a healer; and those who are abundant in benefiting others will realize that wondrous blessing in their hearts and lives."—Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 6o.
Helping others.—"Those who, so far as it is possible, engage in the work of doing good to others by giving practical demonstration of their interest in them, are not only relieving the ills of human life in helping them bear their burdens, but are at the same time contributing largely to their own health of soul and body. Doing good is a work that benefits both giver and receiver. If you forget self in your interest for others, you gain a victory over your infirmities. The satisfaction you will realize in doinc, good, will aid you greatly in the recovery of the healthy tone of the imagination."—/bid., vol. 2, P. 534.
Exercise and good circulation.--"Manual labor quickens the circulation of the blood. The more active the circulation the more free will be the blood from obstructions and impurities. The blood nourishes the body. The health. of the body depends upon the healthful circulation of the blood. If work is performed without the heart being in it, it is simply drudgery, and the benefit which should result from the exercise is not gained."—The Health Reformer, May, 1873.
"Although I might feel indisposed, I should not expect to recover while lying in bed. I should bring will power to my aid, and should leave my bed, and engage in active, physical exercise. I should strictly observe regular habits of rising early. I should eat sparingly, thus relieving my system of unnecessary burden, and should encourage cheerfulness, and give myself the benefits of proper exercise in the open air. I should bathe frequently, and drink freely of pure, soft water. If this course should be followed perseveringly, resisting the inclination to do otherwise, it would work wonders in the recovery of health."
In summary, let us incorporate, along with our other health rules, the following:
1. Get some daily enjoyable vigorous physical exercise.
2. Use will power and trust in God.
3. Forget self in helping others.
4. Develop hygienic habits.
5. Do not overeat.
6. Be cheerful, hopeful, and pleasant.
