Get a Grip on Your Body

Big Idea: Christians have a spiritual responsibility to care for their bodies, seeing physical stewardship an act of worship.

A sign in a department store dressing room says, "Objects in mirror may appear larger than they really are." I have to admit, I like that store. Some stores have even gone so far as to install concave mirrors that make people look slimmer than they really are. "Wow, this outfit makes me look skinny!" But let’s be honest—if that’s the case, they shouldn’t be buying the outfit; they should be buying the mirror.

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Glenn Parker once joked about why NFL linemen are generally cheerful: “There aren’t a lot of well-paying jobs for 300-pounders. We found one, and we’re happy about it.” This morning, we’re going to address one of the glaring weaknesses in modern Christianity: how we treat our bodies.

Studies indicate that 26% of men and 22% of women are clinically obese, which means they weigh 20% more than their ideal body weight. Beyond that, millions more are overweight but not technically obese. Surprisingly, the more a man earns and the more education he has, the more likely he is to be obese. Obesity is associated with various health problems, such as hypertension, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, skeletal issues, and some cancers. In fact, the top five causes of death are all tied to poor nutrition.

To be fair, most people who are overweight or unfit aren’t happy with their condition. Many of us struggle with fitness, and not all of us succeed. Many men wish to fit into their size 32 or 34 pants, while women often hold onto petite dresses as reminders of the past. The weight-loss industry is worth billions, but many people who start fitness and nutrition programs often quit and regain more weight than they lost.

If caring for our bodies were merely an act of vanity, I wouldn’t bother addressing it this morning. If I believed God only cared about our souls, I'd be like most Christians who avoid this topic. But Scripture makes it abundantly clear: God cares deeply about our physical well-being.

Listen to this: If God does not enter your kitchen, there is something wrong with your kitchen. If you can't take God into your recreation, there is something wrong with your play. We all believe in the God of the heroic. What we need most these days is the God of the humdrum, the commonplace, the everyday (Peter Marshall Sr.)

If God isn’t present in your kitchen, there’s something missing in your kitchen. If he isn’t part of your exercise routines, there’s something missing in those routines too.

Our Bodies Matter to God

Let me give you two reasons why the human body is so important to God.

The body is God's handiwork.

Genesis 2:7 describes that moment when the transcendent God gathered a bit of dust and miraculously and lovingly fashioned man. "The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). After God created man, he smoothed off the rough edges and created woman. And God said, "It is good."

You see, the human body is no fluke of the evolutionary process. It is God's design and handiwork. It is his masterpiece. It is the ultimate synthesis between function and beauty. Our most advanced technology pales in comparison to the capabilities of the human body.

Let me give you a couple of examples. The human heart beats over 100,000 times a day. By the time you reach 70 years of age, your heart has pumped blood through your body 3 billion times. If you reach the age of 70, as many do, your heart will have worked continuously without a break for that entire time. Incredible!

A few years ago, scientists tried to improve upon the body. They developed an infant formula designed to surpass the nutritional quality of breast milk. Doctors agree that human milk is the best nutritional option, surpassing any scientific alternatives.

It’s not uncommon to hear someone say about a model or actor, “What an amazing body!” The truth of the matter this morning is that you have an incredible body. It is God's handiwork. You have an incredible body.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
(Psalm 139:14).

Paul Brand and Philip Yancey wrote a book showing how the complexities of the human body illustrate God's creation. But that's the first reason why the care of our bodies is so important. Because our bodies are God's handiwork.

The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

The second reason is found in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

This truth is profound. Our bodies are not our own. As Christians, they've been purchased at a great cost. Why? To become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Your body is his temple, his residence. So, the question is: Are you housing the Holy Spirit in a shack or a mansion? And how should we use our bodies? As instruments through which he can work.

Paul urges us in Romans 12:1:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Our bodies are meant to be living sacrifices, set apart for God. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were required to be perfect and unblemished. If we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, shouldn’t we aim to keep them in the best condition? Shouldn't we aim to offer unblemished lambs?

This, of course, means avoiding immoral uses of our bodies. We must do everything possible to keep them healthy and strong for as long as we live.

Spurgeon said:

Every workman knows the necessity of keeping his tools in a good repair…We shall be likely to accomplish most when we are in the best spiritual condition; or in other words, we shall usually do our Lord's best work when our gifts and graces are in good order, and we shall do worst when they are most out of trim…We are, in a certain sense, our own tools, and therefore must keep ourselves in order.

Let me reiterate: caring for our bodies is a responsibility we owe to God. If anyone thinks that this is not a spiritual or religious topic, he or she is wrong. I'm speaking this morning as one who has a long way to go in this area.

How to Care for Your Body

Let me talk about two areas of spiritual service in which we can care for our bodies. And comparing the body to a car, these two areas are fuel and maintenance.

Fuel

Imagine someone walks into your office, hands you the keys to a luxury car, and says, "This is a gift! It's yours to enjoy. But there's one thing—it's a finely tuned machine and requires the highest quality fuel to run properly. If you don't use the right fuel, you'll damage the engine over time. Will you commit to taking care of it?"

Most of us wouldn't hesitate to say, "Of course! This is an incredible gift, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep it running well." We often neglect to care for our bodies—God's masterpiece, crafted with precision and purpose. We fail to provide what they need to thrive and instead fill them with harmful things, neglecting our responsibility.

Our bodies are more than just physical forms; they are temples of the Holy Spirit, meant to honor God and fulfill his purpose. When we fail to care for them, we limit our ability to live fully and serve effectively. This isn't about perfection or vanity—it's about stewardship. God has entrusted us with these bodies, and how we care for them reflects our gratitude for his gift.

So, what are you putting into your body? Are you treating it as the finely crafted creation it is, or are you neglecting its needs? Caring for our bodies is both a physical concern and a spiritual act of worship, honoring our Creator. Let's honor this gift with respect, not from guilt, but from gratitude for the God who created us so beautifully.

Maintenance

Every car comes with an owner's manual outlining a maintenance schedule. For instance, you're instructed to change the oil every three months or 5,000 kilometers and flush the radiator annually. What happens when you follow this schedule? Cars have been known to last over 300,000 kilometers with only minor repairs. But what happens when you neglect it? I remember a girl in school who didn't know to change her car's oil regularly. Eventually, the engine seized up completely. The lesson is clear: following the maintenance schedule is always preferable.

When it comes to maintaining our bodies, there are two key areas to focus on:

First, exercise.

Exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy body. It strengthens the heart, reducing the risk of heart disease. A 1987 study of 12,000 men showed that moderate exercise, such as walking, golfing, or cycling, reduced the risk of cardiac disease by 30% compared to sedentary individuals. And that's merely what qualifies as moderate exercise! Exercise also boosts your metabolism, so you're burning more calories even when you're at rest. It strengthens your lungs, increases bone density, and slows the brittleness and bone loss that come with aging. It lowers blood pressure and provides emotional and mental benefits, often described as the greatest antidote to stress. And finally, there's a spiritual benefit: knowing that you're honoring God by caring for the body he's entrusted to you.

Exercise with intention and thoughtfulness. Set up accountability, as studies show that 50% of new exercisers quit within six months. Having someone to encourage you can make all the difference.

Second, rest.

One of the most overlooked aspects of body maintenance is rest. From the very beginning, God established a rhythm of work and rest.

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:2-3)

This principle is so important that God reiterated it in the Ten Commandments. To function at our best, we are designed to take one day out of seven to cease from our labors and rest.

Resting comes with a cost. It might mean losing a client, leaving a task undone, or living with a messier house. But God commands us to stop because our bodies, minds, and spirits aren't designed to run endlessly. We need rest. One of the reasons God gave us this command is to teach us to trust him. By taking a day off, we acknowledge that even when we stop working, he continues to provide. We can let go of the fear of losing a client or missing a promotion because God is faithful to meet our needs.

If you're not taking at least one day a week to rest, let me be blunt: you're disobeying God and ignoring his design for your life. No excuses. You're running on empty, and it's only a matter of time before you break down.

Let me illustrate. Imagine coming across someone in the woods, working furiously to saw down a tree. "What are you doing?" you ask. "Can't you see?" they reply impatiently. "I'm sawing down this tree." "You look exhausted!" you exclaim. "How long have you been at it?" "Over five hours," they respond, "and I'm beat! This is hard work." "Why don't you take a break and sharpen the saw?" you suggest. "It would go much faster." But the person shakes their head. "I don't have time to sharpen the saw. I'm too busy sawing."

It's a ridiculous scenario, isn't it? Yet, how often do we live the same way? We push ourselves to the brink, refusing to rest, and wonder why we're exhausted and ineffective. God's design is clear: work hard, but rest well. Sharpen the saw. Trust him enough to stop. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1)

Our culture focuses on appearances, but God asks us to honor him with our bodies as a form of worship. The truth is, our bodies are not our own. They are God's handiwork, fearfully and wonderfully made, and they have been purchased at a great cost—the blood of Christ. They are temples of the Holy Spirit, designed to glorify God and serve his purposes.

But let's be honest: many of us struggle in this area. We neglect our health, overwork ourselves, or fill our bodies with things that harm rather than help. It's easy to feel defeated, especially when the world's standards of beauty and fitness seem unattainable. Yet, God's call to care for our bodies isn't about vanity or perfection—it's about stewardship. We should recognize that our bodies are gifts from him, meant for his glory and the benefit of others.

So, how do we respond? First, we start with gratitude. Thank God for the body he has given you, no matter its current condition. Then, take small, intentional steps to care for it. Eat nourishing food, move regularly, rest well, and invite God into these everyday choices. Remember, this isn't about earning his love; it's about responding to his grace.

Finally, let's not forget the gospel. Jesus came to redeem all of us—body and soul. he lived, died, and rose again to make us whole. Caring for our bodies is one way we reflect his redemption and prepare ourselves to serve him fully.

Today, let’s choose to honor God with our bodies, not out of guilt, but out of love for the One who gave everything for us. Let's live as those who have been redeemed, glorifying God in everything we do, even in our daily routines.