Should Christians take care of their bodies?
The answer is a definitive yes. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. We take care of our homes where we live, so shouldn’t we take care of our bodies where the Holy Spirit dwells?
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Let’s ask ourselves:
Can we do God’s work at our best if we are feeling tired or sluggish?
Can we serve Him at our best if our minds are foggy because we haven’t fueled our bodies with enough fuel?
Taking care of our bodies is not about vanity! That’s what the media wants us to believe. We take care of our bodies because it is in His word. We are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Our bodies are given to us to do His work. A healthy body provides us with the energy to do God’s work. As Christians, taking care of our bodies is taking care of the place where the Holy Spirit dwells.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?
1 Corinthians 6:15a
Some Christians are very busy. We barely have a chance to rest between work, families, and ministry.
Finding time to exercise can be difficult. How long do we need? 20-30 minutes? One 30-minute TV show a few times a week. Exercise does not require a fancy gym membership. What about a walk during our morning prayers, a short walk after dinner, or even a walk during our lunch break?
Healthy eating options can be tricky. Unhealthy food choices are more accessible and sometimes less expensive. We have to make choices. Sometimes just eating less food is good. Nowadays, there are a bunch of unnecessary “super-size” options. We do not need to “super-size” everything. A regular portion is enough for most people. Another idea would be to eat more vegetables and reduce the number of other foods you consume.
These are starting suggestions. Remember that the more we do to take care of our body, the better our body will be prepared to serve Him. We take care of our bodies because they are the temples of the Holy Spirit. It is not about vanity or turning heads. We must also remember not to obsess over taking care of our bodies. It is about taking care of the vessel that the Lord has given us to do His work. We maintain our cars and keep them fueled appropriately, so when we need to use them; they are ready. In the same respect, we must maintain our bodies and feed them properly so we are ready when God needs to use our bodies to serve Him.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1 (NIV)