In my previous blog post, I wrote about consistency. In this blog, I would like to share about stewarding the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, a practice which requires a lot of consistency. Stewardship is defined as “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.

– 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (Amplified Version Bible)

The body is made of many parts, each of which are to be stewarded as the temple of the Holy Spirit. The word of God provides an abundance of instructions about how to spiritually steward parts like the ears, heart, and mind and the repercussions of lack of stewardship of those parts. The things that are heard and seen, permeate the mind and with continued consumption, take root in the heart thereby manifesting in the functioning of the body.

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV)

So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more[understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him (Luke 8:18 AMP)

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (Romans 1:28 NKJV)

New King James (NKJV) and Amplified (AMP) Version Bibles

In the Old Testament, during the exodus of the Israelites and when the law was given to Moses, God gave instructions on what food His people were to eat and how to prepare it (Exodus 16:11-26, Deuteronomy 14:9-21). So we know that God has something to say about stewardship of the body through what is consumed as food. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes that all things are lawful but not all are expedient (1 Corinthians 10:23). Regarding food, this means that much as God has given a variety of things for food, we have to apply wisdom in how we consume. Wisdom also reveals that part of stewarding the body involves putting it to work through exercise/physical activity so that it remains healthy and effective in the work of God.

So what does stewardship of the body look like in practice? Firstly, we must know that all consistent stewardship cannot be achieved except for the help of the Holy Spirit.

In order to keep our minds and hearts, we need to consistently spend time in the Word of God everyday so that we may be renewed and not conform to the ever changing and deteriorating standards of the world (Romans 12:1-2). We have to be cautious and intentional about what we listen to and engage with on social media; knowing that the media is awash with news, TV shows, and even children’s programming filled with inappropriate content. Not every message, photo, and video shared is edifying for us or requires our attention.

Additionally, we need to be very discerning about where we fellowship and receive from the Word of God which is our ultimate spiritual food (Proverbs 4:20-22). The Bible warns us that there are those who have come into the church and mishandled the Word (2 Corinthians 2:17, Revelation 2:2,6) this calls for extra sensitivity, listening to the Holy Spirit regarding where to fellowship.

Regarding the physical health of our bodies, we have to be mindful of what we eat and endeavor to keep our bodies active. Physical activity may look different for everyone but it is necessary to keep the body fit for the purposes and glory of God.

May we seek and yield unto the Lord’s leading in how we can be better stewards of our bodies.