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CAN THE
BIBLE MAKE YOUR
LIFE BETTER?
!"#2
Vol. 100, No. 3 2019 ENGLISH
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10 Financial Stability
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12 Spirituality
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modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
An Ancient Book
for Modern Life
The Bible is not a medical textbook. ˘ Stay Active. Physical activity can improve
Yet, it promotes a healthful course of life. your health regardless of your age, even if
Consider some Bible principles that can you are disabled or limited by chronic illness.
While loved ones and health practitioners can
improve your life physically.
assist you with your exercise program, only
TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY you can make it work!
BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “No man ever hated his own ˘ Get Enough Sleep. Prolonged sleep depriva-
body, but he feeds and cherishes it.” tion is associated with risks for serious ill-
—Ephesians 5:29. nesses. As a result of the choices they make,
many people do not get enough sleep. Yet,
WHAT IT MEANS: This Bible principle encourages by choosing to sleep enough, you choose to
us to do what we can to care for our physical live better.
health. One study shows that many health prob-
lems are related to personal lifestyle choices. AVOID HARMFUL HABITS
Hence, making the right personal choices can BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “Let us cleanse ourselves of
lead to better health. every defilement of flesh and spirit.”—2 Corinthi-
WHAT YOU CAN DO: ans 7:1.
˘ Nutrition. Take charge of your nutrition by eat- WHAT IT MEANS: We benefit from not polluting
ing healthful foods and drinking enough water. our bodies with harmful substances such as
The Bible warns against emotions that are says the Bible. (Proverbs 25:28) A practical way to
harmful and encourages us to cultivate control your anger is to get the facts before react-
those that are beneficial. ing. “The insight of a man certainly slows down his
anger.” (Proverbs 19:11) We do well to listen care-
fully to both sides of a matter, which may provide
ANGER
insight that can steady our emotions.
BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “The one slow to anger is bet-
ter than a mighty man.”—Proverbs 16:32.
GRATITUDE
BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “Show yourselves thankful.”
WHAT IT MEANS: We benefit when we develop the
—Colossians 3:15.
strength to control our emotions. Although some
anger may be justified at times, uncontrolled an- WHAT IT MEANS: It has been said that only a
ger is destructive. Modern researchers point out grateful person can be happy. Even those who
that in the heat of the moment, angry people of- have gone through tremendous loss can attest to
ten say or do things that they will later regret. this. They point out that the key to their emotion-
al survival has been to focus on—not what they
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Learn to control your anger
lost—but what they have to be grateful for.
before it controls you. While some people think
that uncontrolled anger is a sign of strength, we WHAT YOU CAN DO: Each day, make a list of the
are wise to recognize that it is really a sign of things that you are grateful for. These do not
weakness. “As a city broken through, without a have to be major things. Reflect on even the small
wall, is the man who cannot control his temper,” things, such as a beautiful sunrise, a pleasant
Many find it daunting to maintain strong Character says, “self-centeredness leads in sever-
personal relationships. Consider some Bible al unfortunate directions.”
principles that can help you improve your WHAT YOU CAN DO:
life socially. ˘ Help others. Strong friendships stem from
a sense of commitment and trust. Some studies
BE UNSELFISH indicate that people who help others suffer
BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “Look out not only for your less from depression and boost their own self-
own interests, but also for the interests of oth- esteem.
ers.”—Philippians 2:4. ˘ Show empathy. Empathy has been described
WHAT IT MEANS: Successful relationships are as feeling another person’s pain in your heart.
more about giving than about receiving. If you fol- If you show empathy, you will be less likely to
low a selfish course of life, you can damage your use biting sarcasm, that is, sharp and often
ironic expressions intended to hurt the feel-
relationships with others. For example, a selfish
ings of another person.
marriage mate may be disloyal to his or her part-
ner. Additionally, nobody wants to make friends When you show empathy, you also become
with a person who always boasts about what he tolerant of others. Thus, empathy can help
owns or knows. Thus, as the book The Road to you to avoid being prejudiced and also to
Many people have minimized their money if you spent more than you planned on auto-
problems by applying Bible principles. mobile fuel, take money set aside for a less
important purpose—for example, dining out.
HAVE A GOOD PLAN ˘ Avoid unnecessary debt. To the extent possi-
BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “The plans of the diligent sure- ble, avoid going into debt. Instead, save up
ly lead to success, but all who are hasty surely to buy the items you need. If you use a cred-
head for poverty.”—Proverbs 21:5. it card, try to pay off your balance in full each
month to avoid paying interest. If you are in
WHAT IT MEANS: Diligently sticking to your plans debt, set up a repayment plan, and then stick
is an important key to success. Therefore, plan to it.
before spending. Remember, you likely cannot buy
everything you want. Thus, spend your money One study suggests that when paying with
wisely. a credit card, people are prone to spend more.
So if you have a credit card, use it with re-
WHAT YOU CAN DO: straint.
˘ Stick to a budget. Write down all your ex-
BEWARE OF HARMFUL ATTITUDES
penses, and put them in categories. Then al-
locate funds for each expense. If you over- BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “The lazy one does not plow in
spend in one category, take money from winter, so he will be begging during the harvest
another to cover the difference. For example, when he has nothing.”—Proverbs 20:4.
As noted at the outset, many people consid- forting to acknowledge that the problems we face
er the Bible to be a sacred book. They find may well be temporary; in fact, something good
that when they read it and apply its guid- may come from them.
ance, they feel uplifted spiritually and come WHAT YOU CAN DO: Try to have an optimistic
to understand their purpose in life. view of the future. Instead of worrying about what
might happen or waiting for the perfect set of
The Bible uses the word “spirituality” to refer
circumstances, take action in harmony with your
to an attitude or an approach to life. (Jude 18, 19)
goals. Granted, “unexpected events” can occur.
Unlike a fleshly-minded person, who focuses more
(Ecclesiastes 9:11) Realistically, though, things
on self, those with a spiritual outlook value God’s
often turn out better than we may expect. Thus,
standards.—Ephesians 5:1.
using an agricultural metaphor, the Bible says:
HOPE “Sow your seed in the morning and do not let
your hand rest until the evening; for you do not
BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “If you become discouraged in
know which will have success, whether this one
times of trouble, your strength will be meager.”
or that one, or whether they will both do well.”
—Proverbs 24:10, footnote.
—Ecclesiastes 11:6.
WHAT IT MEANS: Discouragement can sap us
of the strength we need in order to deal with
ANSWERS TO LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONS
life’s problems. On the other hand, hope can BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “Give me understanding . . .
give us the courage to keep going. It can be com- Your word is truth.”—Psalm 119:144, 160.
BE AWARE OF YOUR NEED FOR LEARN MORE ABOUT READ AND REFLECT ON THE
SPIRITUALITY. THE GOD OF THE BIBLE. MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE.
“Happy are those conscious “Seek God . . . and really “His delight is in the law of
of their spiritual need.” find him . . . He is not far Jehovah, and he meditates on
off from each one of us.” His law day and night. . . .
—MATTHEW 5:3.
Everything he does will
—ACTS 17:27.
succeed.”
—PSALM 1:2, 3, footnote.
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IN THIS ISSUE
OF AWAKE!
˘ Physical health
˘ Emotional health
˘ Financial stability
˘ Spirituality
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