One thing that gets on my nerves is folks going to use the bathroom, then they come right out without washing their hands. No, you’re not scornful of your own body parts, it’s you. But you are not living on this earth alone. Everybody’s private parts have germs that should not be carried around, touching doorknobs, going into your kitchen, opening refrigerator doors and kitchen cabinets. You mean to tell me you did all of that without washing your hands?
Let’s take a look at how bad this situation is when someone around you does this. The Word of God reminds us that cleanliness is both a physical and spiritual practice. Washing our hands is not simply about hygiene; it is an outward sign of inward purity, a reminder that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Just as we are called to purify our hearts before the Lord, so too should we keep our hands clean, for “clean hands and a pure heart” are required to stand in the holy place (Psalm 24:3-4).
Here are moments when washing our hands carries both health and spiritual meaning:
Before breaking bread: Jesus gave thanks before meals (Matthew 14:19). Washing our hands before, during and after preparing food is an act of reverence, ensuring that what we serve is offered in both purity and thanksgiving.
When caring for the vulnerable: Scripture calls us to protect and honor the weak: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). When changing a child’s diaper or assisting someone in need, handwashing is part of safeguarding the dignity of those entrusted to our care.
When tending the sick or wounded: Jesus touched the leper and healed him (Mark 1:40-42). We too are called to minister with compassion. Washing before and after caring for the sick honors God’s gift of life and prevents harm, fulfilling the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).
When among God’s creatures: “The righteous care for the needs of their animals” (Proverbs 12:10). Yet after handling animals, their food or waste, we show wisdom by cleansing our hands, remembering that God set humankind as stewards over creation (Genesis 1:26).
When casting out refuse: Even the ordinary tasks of taking out trash or cleaning up are acts of service. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Washing hands afterward is a way of completing that labor with integrity and gratitude.
When hands bear the mark of labor: The priests in the Old Testament washed before entering the Tabernacle to minister (Exodus 30:18-21). Likewise, when our hands are dirty from work, we cleanse them before lifting them in prayer, remembering James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts.”
Handwashing, then, is not just a matter of health — it is a spiritual discipline. With every wash, we recall the cleansing of baptism (1 Peter 3:21), and with every rinse, the mercy of God that renews us. Let us keep our hands clean and our hearts pure, so that in all we do, we may glorify the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:31).
In conclusion, fall weather is already upon us, with winter only a few months away. Let me remind you how handwashing is especially important during cooler weather to combat viruses like COVID-19, which has raised its ugly head again. People I personally know are suffering from COVID-19, plus colds and flu that spread more easily when people are indoors and in close proximity. Cold air also dries out mucous membranes, making the body more vulnerable to infection, while prolonged indoor exposure can decrease vitamin D levels, which weakens the immune system. Frequent, proper handwashing with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer, effectively removes germs and prevents the spread of these illnesses.
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, go to her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on X @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.