Some do not exercise control over their appetites, but indulge taste at the expense of health. As the result the brain is clouded, their thoughts are sluggish, and they fail to accomplish what they might if they were self-denying and abstemious. These rob God of the physical and mental strength which might be devoted to His service if temperance were observed in all things. Paul was a health reformer. Said he: “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” He felt that a responsibility rested upon him to preserve all his powers in their strength, that he might use them to the glory of God. If Paul was in danger from intemperance, we are in greater danger, because we do not feel and realize as he did the necessity of glorifying God in our bodies and spirits, which are His. Overeating is the sin of this age. {4T 454.2}

Nogle øver ikke selvkontrol over deres appetit, men giver smagen frit løb, på bekostning af sundheden. Som følge deraf omtåges hjernen, deres tanker bliver langsomme og de får ikke udrettet det, som de kunne, hvis de var selvfornægtende og mådeholdne. Dette frarøver Gud den fysiske og åndelige styrke, som kunne være helliget for hans tjeneste; dersom der var udvist mådehold i alle ting. Paulus var en helsereformer. Han sagde: »Men jeg er hård mod mit legeme og holder det i ave, for at ikke jeg, der har prædiket for andre, selv skal blive forkastet.« Han mærkede et ansvar på sine skuldre, for at bevare alle sine kræfter i deres styrke, så han kunne bruge dem til Guds ære. Hvis Paulus var i fare for umådeholdenhed, er vi i større fare, fordi vi ikke mærker og erkender, ligesom han, nødvendigheden af at forherlige Gud i vore legemer og ånd, som er hans. Overbespisning er denne tids synd.