現在我們需要思想一個問題，當我們在實踐第五福的時候，如何能夠給我們帶來良好的精神和靈性的健康？心理學家告訴我們，那些缺乏恩慈和憐憫的人身體更容易出毛病。苛刻、審判的態度可能為那些不懂得憐恤的人帶來滿足，不過那隻是虛假的滿足感。

有一節經文嚴格來說與我們現在所討論的不太吻合，但在某個程度上仍然適用。那節經文是：「在我口中果然甜如蜜，吃了以後，肚子覺得發苦了」（啟十10）。當我們的態度與耶穌基督的教導不協調的時候，就會出現這種情況。最初，牠確實「甜如蜜」，剛剛放在口中時明顯是甜的，但「在肚子卻發苦」，因牠是不能吸收的。我們若有任何態度是與耶穌基督的靈相違背的話，我們的人就不能有效地發揮作用。

一位基督徒醫生說：「我們對錯誤的態度過敏，正如有些人對蝦過敏一樣。」我自己對紅椒和青椒過敏，我試過很多次但是結果都一樣，牠們讓我感到不舒服。同樣地，我也對自己不該有的苛刻、批判性的態度過敏，我不能接受牠們。牠們會擾亂我的身心靈。同樣的情況也會發生在你身上；當我們不能實踐主耶穌在八福中為我們描述的原則時，我們安好的感覺便會降低、削減、受害。良善確實對我們有益，無論是在靈性、精神或身體上。

Now we pause to ask ourselves how this fifth Beatitude, when practised, engenders within us good mental and spiritual health. Psychologists have shown that those who lack the qualities of mercy and compassion are more likely to develop physical problems. Harsh, judgmental attitudes may bring a sense of satisfaction to the person who does not know the meaning of mercy, but it is a false sense of satisfaction.

A verse that, strictly speaking, does not apply to what I am saying here, but nevertheless has some application is this: "It did taste sweet, like honey, but when I had eaten it, it was bitter to digest" (Revelation 10:10, Moffatt). That is what happens whenever we adopt any attitude that is not in harmony with Jesus Christ. At first it does "taste sweet, like honey" - its beginnings are apparently sweet, but it is "bitter to digest" - it cannot be assimilated. Our human constitution is not made to function effectively on any attitude that is foreign to the spirit of Jesus Christ.

A Christian doctor says: "We are allergic to wrong attitudes just as some people are allergic to shrimps." I am physically allergic to red and green peppers. I have tried them scores of times, but the result has always been the same - I get sick. I am just as allergic to harsh, judgmental attitudes. 1 can't assimilate them. They disrupt me - body, soul and spirit. And what goes for me goes also for you When we fail to practise the principles which our Lord outlined for us in , then our sense of well-being is lowered, depleted and poisoned. Goodness is good for us - spiritually, mentally and physically.