As Christians, we believe that God created us in His own image, giving each of us our own body to care for. Because our bodies are a gift from God, it’s vital that we take good care of them, so that we can continue to serve the Lord and love others for many years to come. In fact, the importance of taking care of our bodies is conveyed several times throughout the Bible. While there are many significant self-care scriptures, these are our top choices for the best Bible verses related to the health and stewardship of our bodies:
1. BODIES ARE TEMPLES
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Possibly the most well-known verse related to taking care of our bodies, this verse from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is often pointed to as a way of discouraging Christians from drinking, smoking, overeating, or lack of exercise. While Christians have been given the gift of freedom, we should live in gratitude and avoid unhealthy activities and habits that dishonor our bodies, our Christian service and God.
2. GOD'S SPIRIT DWELLS IN YOU
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
Very similar to the previous verse, this excerpt from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians expands on the idea that our body is a temple given to us by God and that God dwells within it. This verse implies that we are commanded to take good care of our temple (our body) and worship God by treating our body like a temple that God lives in. If we knew that God was coming to stay at our homes, most of us would serve and honor God with our best. We should do the same for God by honoring and caring for our bodies.
3. EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT, BUT…
1 Timothy 4:8 “For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
Paul continues to speak on the importance of self-care and bodily stewardship. He says that while exercise is important and has some value, our “godliness” is most useful to God. Our biblical choices reflect our awareness and submission to God’s purpose in our lives. The choices we make today impact our future.
THE STRUGGLE AND THE NEED FOR MEDICAL CARE
The importance of keeping our bodies healthy is made quite clear throughout the Bible, but for many of us this is a struggle. The reasons we struggle to keep our bodies healthy vary from person to person. For some of us, it may be unhealthy habits that need to be changed, or injuries that prevent us being able to exercise. For others, it may be medical conditions we live with that take a toll on our bodies.
Whether you’re struggling with these issues or not, there’s one thing we all have in common — the need for quality medical care. Access to medical care can make a drastic difference in our ability to keep ourselves healthy. For many of us, access to an effective healthcare program is simply not affordable. However, there’s a Christian organization that makes healthcare affordable for over 200,000 Americans who agree to live by the biblical values of taking care of yourself and others.
Liberty HealthShare brings people together to help them take control of their health and gives members a way to afford medical costs at fair prices. They strive to achieve this goal in a way that is centered on the health of each member. Liberty HealthShare focuses on the health of their members, and they do it in a way that adheres to the teachings of the Bible. In fact, every Liberty HealthShare member agrees to a statement of Christian beliefs and core values by which they practice and share one another’s medical expenses.
Each of us is responsible for taking care of the temple that God has given us, but that can often be difficult to do in a society where medical care can be so expensive. However, there’s good news for those seeking an affordable, wellness-driven healthcare program. Liberty HealthShare brings together a large community of members who share the burden of medical expenses, making necessary medical care more accessible for all members, and giving members a greater ability to take care of themselves and one another.
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To learn more about healthcare sharing programs at Liberty HealthShare, request a free decision guide.
Since 1995, Liberty HealthShare has equipped health-conscious individuals and families to make wise healthcare decisions. Our supportive community commits to bearing one another’s burdens in prayer, encouragement, and financial support. By emphasizing good stewardship of our bodies and our healthcare spending, and providing helpful advice, we help our members stay in good health, budget for medical needs, and reduce the overwhelming complexity of navigating our nation’s current medical care system.