Weight and appearance are big issues today. Americans spent more than $75 billion on weight loss and diet control last year. The CDC says 41% of Americans are obese. What does God think about this? Does He even care? He loves us as we are, doesn’t He? Why bother even thinking about it?
There are two areas to consider when we talk about weight: our appearance and our health. The Bible recognizes that some people have a more pleasing appearance than others, i.e. Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29:16-17). That doesn’t mean one has more or less value as a human being (see also 1 Samuel 16:11-12; Hebrews 11:23). Of course, God is more concerned with our inner self than our outer appearance. “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:6-7). God is concerned about our hearts far more than our appearance (1 Peter 3:3-4). We can be the most beautiful person in the world and work diligently to have a slim, strong body, but if our hearts are far from God, we have fallen short of what He desires. These bodies are temporary and will be replaced with perfect bodies for all eternity (1 Corinthians 15:50-53). Still, God wants us to be good stewards with our bodies and good examples to those around us. First impressions carry a lot of weight. It’s natural to make value judgments about someone who is neat and well taken care of compared to someone who is sloppy and unclean. Appearances do matter in our witness and testimony for the Lord.
The other part of this is our health. According to Scripture, we are to care for our bodies. This is not just for appearance’s sake, but in gratitude to God for the gift of the body He created for His glory, and so that we can accomplish the purpose and work in life that He calls us to do. That, too, is a matter of stewardship. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Because we are the temple of the Holy Spirit – the place where God dwells with us – we are cautioned not to destroy this temple. We are to care for it as a gift to be used for His glory. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; see also Ephesians 2:10).
According to Scripture we have a responsibility to care for our bodies to the best of our ability. Weight is only one part of that, but too much weight can be a symptom of a greater issue – that of our hearts. Do we really understand we are here just for a short time, with a singular purpose of glorifying God? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to exercise self-control in us? Are we choosing good nutrition to fuel this amazing body, so it works properly and stays healthy? Are we staying active so our muscles and bones stay strong, so that we can go where God calls us to go and do the work He’s asked us to do? Or are we listening to the enemy, who wants to destroy our lives and keep us away from all that God has for us?
Do you struggle with your weight? You’re not alone. It’s good to try to have a healthy weight. But don’t be so concerned about what you look like that you neglect the real you, the person inside that will live forever. You are worth more than how you look. Your body is temporary but your soul will live forever. God has a purpose for your life and wants you to faithfully fulfill your calling. Ask God to help you be healthy so that you can enjoy the abundant life and Christ-centered mission He has planned for you.
“Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12).
How would you rate your stewardship of your body? Do you emphasize your appearance and health too much or too little? What do you need to do to have a better balance?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India & Africa Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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