Scroll the internet or social media, and you will find many tips and tricks on how to maintain good health.
The secular world often focuses on longevity and appearance as the benefits of wellness, but believers have an even greater “why” when it comes to healthy living.
Think of it this way: Have you ever borrowed something from your neighbor or a friend? Did you mistreat it? Probably not. Normally, if you borrow something from a friend or a family member, you take good care of it, keep it safe and strive to return it in the same or better condition.
Everything we have belongs to the Lord, so taking care of our bodies, souls, minds and time as best we can is an act of stewardship.
Let’s start with why health is important.
Temple of the Spirit
In the Old Testament, God instructed King Solomon to build a temple. God’s presence dwelt in the temple for many years, but when Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple that separated God from everyone else was torn (Matt. 27:51).
The Spirit of God who resided in the temple now resides in those who believe in Christ. Galatians 2:20 reads, “I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
When you repented of your sins and placed your faith in Christ, you gave your soul and everything else to God. John 3:30 reminds us of this truth: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
This may seem overwhelming, but biblical health and wellness is a chance to strengthen your relationship with the Lord. Glorifying the Lord instead of ourselves is not an easy approach to health and wellness because our hearts desire the things of this world, which may not be best for us physically or emotionally.
More than physical
Christ calls us to be stronger than our physical desires. This does not mean we have to be supermodels and bodybuilders, nor does it mean that your health will be perfect because of your strong faith. It does mean we should strive to take care of our bodies as God’s temple (1 Cor. 6:19–20).
What does that look like? In a series of upcoming articles, we’ll explore the physical and spiritual elements of wellness from several different angles, including mental health, spiritual health, physical health and the powerful benefits of awe.
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