“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.” There is work here for every man, woman, and child to do. Satan is constantly seeking to gain control of your bodies and spirits. But Christ has bought you, and you are His property. And now it is for you to work in union with Christ, in union with the holy angels that minister unto you. It is for you to keep the body under and bring it into subjection. Unless you do this you will certainly lose everlasting life and the crown of immortality. And yet some will say: “What business is it to anybody what I eat or what I drink?” I have shown you what relation your course has to others. You have seen that it has much to do with the influence you exert in your families. It has much to do with molding the characters of your children. {2T 359.1}

Mange familier lever et ulykkeligt liv fordi manden og faderen lader det dyriske i sin natur være fremherskende og lader intelligensen og moralen komme i anden række. Resultatet af dette er ofte en følelse af slaphed og mangel på energi, men det er sjældent, at man forstår, at dette er et resultat af deres egen upassende handlemåde. Vi står under højtidelig forpligtelse over for Gud med hensyn til at bevare Ånden ren og legemet sundt, så vi kan være til velsignelse for menneskeheden og yde Gud en. fuldkommen tjeneste.] Apostlen udtaler disse advarselsord: »Lad derfor ikke synden have herredømmet i jeres dødelige legeme, så I lyder dets lyster« Han tilskynder os ved at fortælle os at »Enhver, der deltager i idrætskamp, er afholdende i alt.« Han formaner alle som kalder sig kristne »til at bringe jeres legemer som et levende, helligt, Gud velbehageligt offer.« Han siger at »jeg er hård mod mit legeme og holder det i ave, for at ikke jeg, der har prædiket for andre, selv skal blive forkastet.« [Buds t unge side 282-283]