My Body, My Temple

Big Idea: Since God has masterfully created us we need to respect and take care of our body as God’s temple.

My Body, My Temple

Perhaps you have heard the joke or meme, “My Body is a Temple, It’s just old, creaky and falling apart.”

What does it mean when people say, “My Body is a Temple?” Arguably some people worship their body working hard to keep tight muscles and creamy skin.

The phrase comes from the Bible in I Corinthians. The Apostle Paul teaches that we are God’s craftsmanship and we honor and respect Him by taking care of it.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. I Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT

If we love God and belong to Him then we should care for it by getting rest, exercise and nutrients to stay healthy. We shouldn’t introduce what’s bad for it like recreational abuse of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Or excessive fatty foods! Gasp!

The Practical Proverbs

The book of Proverbs says a lot about God but also has a lot of practical everyday advice. It speaks of health. Bodily health ties in with a mindset of peace and kindness.

These verses in Proverbs reflect that!

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body. Jealousy is like cancer to the bones. Proverbs 14:30 NLT

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health. Proverbs 15:30 NLT

Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 NLT

A doctor recently told me that for years the medical profession thought educating patients led to better health. They now see that attitudes and beliefs have a much greater impact on healthy living, than they previously thought.

There is a classic book called None of these diseases. It asserts the Bible is useful for health guidelines. It also emphasizes that worry and stress cause so many illnesses.

Take-a-ways on our body

1. We are created by God. We are carefully crafted. We don’t want to treat His fine handiwork as junk.

2. We are set apart by God to honor Him. We would not want to pollute our body or mistreat it. 

3. Cultivate a heart at peace. Our emotional state has a big impact on our health. Embrace peace, joy, kindness and rely on God.

We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

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Reflect:

1. Have you ever considered the Bible has advice for good health? Why or why not?

2. What role does stress and discord play in your life, and do you notice that it has an impact on your health? If so, how might you address that?