现在我们需要思想一个问题，当我们在实践第五福的时候，如何能够给我们带来良好的精神和灵性的健康？心理学家告诉我们，那些缺乏恩慈和怜悯的人身体更容易出毛病。苛刻、审判的态度可能为那些不懂得怜恤的人带来满足，不过那只是虚假的满足感。

有一节经文严格来说与我们现在所讨论的不太吻合，但在某个程度上仍然适用。那节经文是：「在我口中果然甜如蜜，吃了以后，肚子觉得发苦了」（启十10）。当我们的态度与耶稣基督的教导不协调的时候，就会出现这种情况。最初，牠确实「甜如蜜」，刚刚放在口中时明显是甜的，但「在肚子却发苦」，因牠是不能吸收的。我们若有任何态度是与耶稣基督的灵相违背的话，我们的人就不能有效地发挥作用。

一位基督徒医生说：「我们对错误的态度过敏，正如有些人对虾过敏一样。」我自己对红椒和青椒过敏，我试过很多次但是结果都一样，牠们让我感到不舒服。同样地，我也对自己不该有的苛刻、批判性的态度过敏，我不能接受牠们。牠们会扰乱我的身心灵。同样的情况也会发生在你身上；当我们不能实践主耶稣在八福中为我们描述的原则时，我们安好的感觉便会降低、削减、受害。良善确实对我们有益，无论是在灵性、精神或身体上。

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.