Does God Care About Your Body

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

God made us spirit, soul and body. All three are equally important to the Christian. Spirit-filled Christians are often diligent in taking care of the spirit and soul aspect, but somehow maintaining the body is relegated to the back seat.

Apostle Paul writes, “Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit]. For physical training is of some value (useful for a little) (1 Timothy 4:7-8 Amplified). Both kinds of training are important – physical and spiritual training. Many fail to see this truth.

There are some people that focus entirely on the spiritual aspect and neglect their physical bodies. On the other hand, some focus so much attention on the form and shape of their physical bodies that they neglect spiritual growth and maturity. There must be a balance.

Are there benefits to exercising, and can Christians do it? Yes!

1. We honour God by taking care of our bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 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 honour God with your bodies.

God expects us to take care of our bodies because we are not the owner of our bodies. We are only managing it. The word for a manager in the Bible is a steward. Taking care of my body is an issue of spiritual stewardship.

2. Exercise helps discipline our bodies to a great extent
But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]. (1 Corinthians 9:27 Amplified)

3. Exercise keeps us healthy for doing God’s Will
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers. (3 John 2). Exercise reduces stress and fatigue to a great extent.

To sum it all up, our Christian goal in exercise should not be so that other people will notice and admire us. Rather, the goal of exercising should be to improve our physical health so we will possess more physical energy to do all that God has called us to do on this earth.

Does God Care About Your Body

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