Bible study: Setting a good example Water and sanitation RESOURCESPUBLICATIONSFOOTSTEPSFOOTSTEPS 73BIBLE STUDY: SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE This Bible study helps us to think about how we should live responsibly and set a good example to those around us. Read Genesis 2: 4-25. What does God provide for Adam’s benefit? What responsibilities does God give to Adam? What does this passage say about the way God intends us to care for the environment and those around us? Read Deuteronomy 23:12-14. In this passage, God is speaking through Moses to the Israelites about safe excreta removal. This command was given so that the camp would be kept holy (verse 14), but the practice would also have kept the camp healthy. Infections like dysentery, diarrhoea, intestinal worms, typhoid fever, and ringworm are a result of bad hygienic practices, and these can be prevented. How much do our sanitation practices and personal hygiene show that we care about our own health and the health of our families and communities? What action can we take to show others how to practise good sanitation and hygiene? Christians have the challenge of being salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16). As followers of Christ, we should set a good example. Some people have said that ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’. How well have we maintained our homes? It would be bad if our homes were breeding places for animals, such as flies and rats, which carry diseases. We would be responsible for the lives of our neighbours if any of them acquired diseases as a result of our unhygienic environments. Rev Canon George Bagamuhunda is a Water Engineer and works as a Programme Coordinator of the Water and Sanitation Programme for the Diocese of Kigezi in Uganda. Email: kdwd@infocom.co.ug FOOTSTEPS ISSUES 109 - Youth 108 - Living with disability 107 - Waste 106 - Sexual and gender-based violence 105 - Land rights 104 - Prisons 103 - Entrepreneurship 102 - Health and faith 101 - Caring for orphans 100 - Impact and change 99 - Climate change 98 - HIV 97 - Hygiene and sanitation 96 - Human trafficking 95 - Poultry keeping 94 - Valuing food 93 - Mobilising local resources 92 - Conflict and peace 91 - Maternal health 90 - Lifelong learning 89 - Livestock 88 - Managing disasters 87 - Non-communicable diseases 86 - Stigma 85 - Trees 84 - Leadership 83 - Millennium development goals 82 - Natural resources 81 - Celebration issue – 20 years 80 - Micro-enterprise 79 - Managing everyday risk 78 - Migration 77 - Food security 76 - Accountability 75 - Sharing ideas 74 - Household health care 73 - Sanitation 72 - Family life 71 - Effective communication 70 - Agriculture and climate change 69 - Sexual health 68 - Forgiveness and reconciliation 67 - Urban renewal 66 - Human rights 65 - Adding value to food 64 - Planning for sustainability 63 - Meeting the MDGs 62 - Literacy 61 - Impact of HIV on children 60 - Facilitation skills 59 - Pollution 58 - Theatre for development 57 - Financial stewardship 56 - Learning from disaster 55 - Families under pressure 54 - Household agriculture 53 - Holistic development 52 - Nutrition 51 - Water 50 - Increasing our impact 49 - Disability 48 - Traditional medicines 47 - Biodiversity 46 - Appropriate technology 45 - Advocacy 44 - Networking - HIV & AIDS 43 - Motivating change 42 - Focus on health and dental care 41 - Looking after our land 40 - Celebration issue - 10 years 39 - Older people 38 - Child participation 37 - Sustainable healthcare 36 - Conflict management 35 - Micro-enterprise 34 - Animal health 33 - Insect-borne diseases 32 - Food security 31 - Readers' feedback 30 - Water, sanitation and hygiene 29 - PLA 28 - Street children 27 - Population 26 - Credit schemes 25 - Fish Farming 24 - Women's health 23 - Drug rehabilitation 22 - Training 21 - Technology 20 - Environment 19 - TB and AIDS 18 - Disasters 17 - Evaluation 16 - Literacy 15 - Soil erosion 14 - Immunization 13 - Clear vision 12 - Partnership in health 11 - Accounts and records 10 - Small livestock 9 - Sanitation 8 - Mother and child care 7 - Home gardens 6 - AIDS 5 - Trees 4 - Help from children 3 - Family spacing 2 - Medicines and chemicals 1 - Water Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print