Your body belongs to the Lord. First Corinthians 6:19.20 reminds us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are encouraged to honor God with our body.
In 1 Chronicles there is a beautiful description of the temple and great detail was given to describing the design and construction of the temple with the understanding that the temple was to be a house of God.
Thus, it is apparent that if our body is a temple of God’s it is clear that an emphasis on taking care of the body is in line with a desire to serve God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.
Moreover, we are all .members of one body (Eph. 4:25) and we need to be aware that individually and collectively, our bodies should be used to bring honor and glory to God.
One of the ways to honor God with our bodies is to literally take care of ourselves physically through physical activity and exercise.
There are numerous reasons to be physically active the admonition from the Bible to honor God with our bodies. There are physical health benefits as well as emotional, social and intellectual benefits.
The Bible is full of descriptions of the relationship between our physical bodies and the Spirit. First Corinthians 3:16.17 is clear in stating that our bodies are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in this temple.
Verse 17 states, .If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him: for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
In addition, Romans 12:1 implores us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. In Matthew 25:14.30, the parable of the talents clearly implies that we are to be good stewards of all that we have been given including the wise stewardship of the use of our physical bodies.
Possibly, the strongest message we have of the importance of taking care of our physical bodies is that the full revelation of God’s presence to us was in the form of a human physical being Jesus Christ.
The physical health benefits of activity and exercise are clearly evident.
Scientific research has demonstrated a direct link between regular physical activity and lower resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, an increase in the overall efficiency of your heart and lungs and reduced cholesterol levels.
Also, individuals who exercise on a regular basis have decreased sickness and death from all forms of cardiovascular disease the leading cause of death in the United States.
Moreover, regular exercisers also have decreased risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, osteoporosis and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Individuals who are physically active also develop stronger and healthier bones, typically have a more efficient digestive system, improved sleep habits, increased resting metabolic rate and reduced chronic back pain.
In addition, according to Tommy Thompson, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, chronic diseases, which are largely preventable, cause 70 percent of all deaths in the United States and account for 75 percent of the annual $1.4 trillion health care costs in America.
He predicts that if current conditions continue, the United States will be spending $2.8 trillion on health care by the year 2011.
However, the benefits of exercise are not just physical. The emotional, social and intellectual benefits of regular physical activity are numerous.
Minor emotional disturbances can be somewhat mitigated by regular participation in physical activity. Physical and emotional stress is more easily handled when individuals participate in exercise and physical activity.
Also, in some cases intellectual capacity can be improved not increased, but improved; thus resulting in greater productivity throughout the course of a day. Many companies have become aware of the plethora of information supporting the notion that physically active people are more productive employees.
So as you consider whether to become physically active, remember, it is quite evident that the reasons for exercising are clear combining the spiritual admonition and physical benefit as well as emotional, social and intellectual benefit, it is wise to remember, your body belongs to the Lord.
Upcoming articles will focus on an explanation of the difference between physical activity and exercise, as well as health-related versus skill-related fitness components.
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