"Health Health is a blessing of which few appreciate the value; yet upon it the efficiency of our mental and physical powers largely depends. Our impulses and passions have their seat in the body, and it must be kept in the best condition physically and under the most spiritual influences in order that our talents may be put to the highest use. COL 346"
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."
The EGW passage emphasizes the importance of health for mental and physical efficiency, connecting it to spiritual influences. This aligns directly with 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, which states that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and should be used to glorify God.
"Whatever the line of work in which we engage, the word of God teaches us to be “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might,” “knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Romans 12:11 ; Ecclesiastes 9:10 ; Colossians 3:24 . COL 346.1"
"Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;"
Ellen White directly references Romans 12:11 in this passage.
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."
Ellen White directly references Ecclesiastes 9:10 in this passage.
"Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
Ellen White directly references Colossians 3:24 in this passage.
"Anything that lessens physical strength enfeebles the mind and makes it less capable of discriminating between right and wrong. We become less capable of choosing the good and have less strength of will to do that which we know to be right. COL 346.3"
"For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."
The EGW passage discusses how physical weakness can impair judgment and willpower, making it harder to choose and do what is right. This resonates with Romans 7:15, where Paul expresses the struggle of not doing what he wants to do and doing what he hates. Both passages highlight the conflict between intention and action, although from slightly different perspectives.
"robbery toward God. And they are robbing their fellow men also. The opportunity of blessing others, the very work for which God sent them into the world, has by their own course of action been cut short. And they have unfitted themselves to do even that which in a briefer period of time they might have accomplished. The Lord holds us guilty when by our injurious habits we thus deprive the world of good. COL 346.4"
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
Both passages deal with robbing God, though EGW broadens the concept beyond tithes and offerings to include depriving others of blessings through harmful habits.