The Physical Body
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
After her husband died, Maggie Smith and her two children (both adults) filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Franklin Price. Mrs. Smith and her children, did not believe that Dr. Price had done enough to try to help Lawrence Smith to avoid serious health problems. Mr. Smith was only 54 years old, when he died from a heart attack. Mr. Smith was a long-time smoker, overweight, had a poor diet, did very little to exercise, had diabetes, high cholesterol, and was under substantial stress at his place of employment. The Smith family won a $1.2 million judgment against Dr. Price. This was in spite of the poor health condition of Mr. Smith, and his bad habits; and, in spite of the fact that Dr. Price had repeatedly admonished Mr. Smith about his need for better health habits.
As Christians, we tend to concentrate on the spiritual, and our responsibilities in that realm. However, if we are to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to our care, we must also be concerned with our physical bodies. The condition of our physical body, impacts every other aspect of our life, including the spiritual.
There are several reasons why, as Christians, we should take care of our physical bodies. We should properly care for our physical bodies, because without that care our physical lives will end prematurely before our time. If our lives end prematurely, we will not be able to do all that we should do here on earth before going to be with our Lord. A good example is Lawrence Smith, who died at the age of 54 well below the average life span. Of course, the number of days of your life may be more or less depending upon God’s will and plan for you personally.
We should properly care for our bodies, so that we will have the mental capacity to do all that God would have us to do with our lives. According to “American Health”, after working out three times a week for six months, a research group was able to perform 70% better on a test of complex decision making. Knowing we can make better decisions, if we are in good physical condition; requires us to take care of our physical bodies, if we are to be good stewards.
We should properly care for our bodies so that we will have the energy to do all that God would have us to do with our lives. Research has shown, that exercise increases energy and reduces fatigue. At the same time, exercise reduces the stress level, enabling us to do more.
We should properly care for our bodies, because of the financial impact our health has on our lives. The better our health, the less money we will spend on doctors, medicines, and all forms of health care. With better health, we will be able to have more of the financial resources necessary to further the Kingdom of God.
Did you know that 87% of Americans own running shoes, but don’t run? Maybe it’s time to get those running shoes out of the closet, and do some running, or at least some walking. Because, unless you exercise, you will not be able to be the good steward God wants you to be. If you have bad habits, and a bad diet that are ruining your health; God would have you to change your habits, and your diet. God does want what is best for you, and there is some profit in taking care of your body, as the apostle Paul points out to Timothy. If you don’t believe me, why don’t you ask God, because I think He will tell you the same thing.
(It is God’s will for us to take care of our bodies. The condition of our physical body, impacts every other aspect of our life, including the spiritual.)