Keeping the Temple Fit

Dr. Asha Fields Brewer

Should physical health be important to the Christian? If we take care of the Inner Man, won’t God take care of the rest?

As people of faith, we tend to separate our physical health from our spiritual health, but God desires that we develop them together. 3 John 1:2, ESV, shares, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” So why do we have such a problem with health, sickness, and disease among people of faith? We must take a different perspective on health and understand that physical health and spiritual health are intimately connected. Declining physical health can hold back a prosperous spirit, just as a declining spirit can hold back prosperous physical health. To be better stewards of our physical and spiritual well-being, we must be committed to taking care of the temple.

Duty No. 1: We are building managers of the temple.

1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV, reminds us that we do not own the temple, but rather, it is on loan from God, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” Verse 17 warns us about how we treat this loan, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” Maintaining the physical body is important primarily because we don’t even own it! It was purchased and then loaned to us, similar to when you borrow a book from the library. You are in-charge of caring for the book for the assigned time frame. Then you are expected to return the book in the same condition in which it was lent. If you return the book with damages, you are held responsible. You cannot pass the blame to your busy schedule at work, at church, or in the community. The liability falls on you, and you must pay for the consequences. Furthermore, knowing that our Lender is God Himself, how much more should we want to protect the gift that He has allowed us to borrow? There is value in maintaining a healthy spirit along with a healthy physical body. Committ to developing them together.

Duty No. 2: We are housekeepers for the temple.

Would you invite guests to stay at your house while the pests freely roam around your house (perhaps because you forgot to get in touch with Pestcontrolexperts.com– firm that can offer services related to pest control georgia) or if the dishes are piled up in the sink or dirty laundry consumes the hallways? Would you let your guests see trash spilling out of the canister and onto the floor? We must give the Tenant of our temples the same respect because our Tenant is the Holy Spirit! So, we must put our housekeeping skills to work! Move that dirty laundry. Remove those cobwebs hanging inside your house. Make the windows spotless (withe the help of experts from OasisWC). Free the corners of the house from dirt. Wipe the floors. Restore order in your life, and intentionally engage in physical activity throughout the day. Take out the trash by making more nutritious eating choices. The purpose is to keep a clean house, so your esteemed Guest has a more inviting place to stay.
Duty No. 3: We are groundskeepers for the temple.

Curb appeal can make or break the value of a property. One must maintain the beauty of the property so the value remains high. when your driveway looks nasty, you might call pressure washing companies to clean the dirt off the concrete. similarly, when the house looks old, many prefer to hire painters to give the house a new look. That said, when the grass is up to your knees and trees are hanging on by a limb, a perfectly good home can get overlooked by visitors and earn a poor reputation around town. This curb appeal is your testimony. Don’t deter people from visiting your spirit, because the weeds of stress have taken over your life. Survey your property, cut back on people and commitments that are weighing you down, and give your temple the attention it needs.

When all is said and done, what does your physical temple say about your God? If we are to glorify God with our bodies as instructed, then we must be good managers, good housekeepers, and good groundskeepers of the temple He has loaned to us. It is such an honor to house the very Spirit of God within us. Strive to live in a way where service to God is not an excuse for poor health, but rather a motivating factor to do better. Intentionally seek ways to be a better steward of your temple and keep it fit for God’s service.

Dr. Asha Fields Brewer is a Creator of Healthy Conversations. As a national speaker and published author, she teaches the busy & overwhelmed how to live life abundantly. She is the owner of the Temple Fit Co. wellness agency, which is home to 25-plus wellness speakers and fitness instructors. Tune in to “Temple Fit Devotions with Dr. Asha” on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. on Hallelujah 95.3 FM.