A Worthy Investment

Health is often like a savings account that we wait to invest in until it is no longer as valuable as it used to be. And yet, we still hope to get the best from it.

As a quote often attributed to the Canadian clergyman A. J. Reb Materi aptly puts it, “So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health.” The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on April 7, 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. World Health Day is celebrated each year on April 7, marking the founding of WHO and drawing attention to important health issues facing the world. But what is health, and how can we promote it? According to WHO, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”7 In her book The Ministry of Healing, Ellen White explains, Too little attention is generally given to the preservation of health. It is far better to prevent disease than to know how to treat it when contracted. It is the duty of every person, for his own sake, and for the sake of humanity, to inform himself in regard to the laws of life and conscientiously to obey them.

All need to become acquainted with that most wonderful of all organisms, the human body. They should understand the functions of the various organs and the dependence of one upon another for the healthy action of all. They should study the influence of the mind upon the body, and of the body upon the mind, and the laws by which they are governed.

Mrs. White also states, Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power —these are the true remedies.

Every person should have a knowledge of nature’s remedial agencies and how to apply them... Those who persevere in obedience to her laws will reap the reward in health of body and health of mind.9 These “true remedies” are the basis of the NEWSTART® health program that addresses (1) nutrition, (2) exercise, (3) water, (4) sunshine, (5) temperance, (6) air, (7) rest, and (8) trust in God.10 Knowing these things, why not improve your personal lifestyle by taking into serious and balanced consideration each of these eight basic principles of health?