CLEANNESS-Does our physical hygiene matter to God?

"Let us cleanser ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit." -2 Corinthians 7:1


WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS   Our Creator loves us and wants us to enjoy good health and long, productive lives.  "May your heart observe my commandments, "God says, "because they will add many days and years of life  and peace to you." (Proverbs 3:1, 2)  God's love for humans was reflected  in his commandments to Israel, which included specific  directions on hygiene and sanitation.  (Deuteronomy 23:12-14)  When the Israelites adhered to those reasonable standards, they enjoyed improved health and protection against diseases that plagued other  nations, such as Egypt, that did not have such an advanced  law code.-Deuteronomy 7:12, 15. 

Likewise today, people who "cleanse [themselves] of every defilement  of flesh," which includes such defiling habits as smoking, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse, reduce their risk of illness-physical and mental-as well as premature death. And because  we do not usually live in isolation, our adherence to God's  standards of cleanness also shows our consideration for others. -Mark 12:30, 31. 

Next time: Are Bible Standards reasonable? 

From the Awake! magazine, 2014