Caring for Our Bodies

Once there was a rich man who had two sons whom he loved dearly and showered with good things. When his sons were grown, he gave them the deeds to houses he had put in their names the day they were born. Besides being amazingly well designed and constructed, the two houses had another thing in common: they needed regular upkeep. One son kept on top of repairs and even made a few improvements, but the other son let his house go to rack and ruin. Which do you think could expect more good things from his father?—Yes, the one who showed gratitude by taking care of his gift.

That’s not one of the parables Jesus told, but I think it could have been. (He would have told it better, of course.) Or maybe it would have gone like this:

Once there was a rich man who gave each of his two sons a house. One son took good care of his house, and the other didn’t. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the houses. The house that had been cared for made it through the storm, but the house that had been neglected collapsed.

Then I think Jesus would have explained the parable like this:

The rich man is our heavenly Father, we are His sons (and daughters), and the houses are our bodies. They are amazing—“fearfully and wonderfully made,” as the Bible puts it—but they require upkeep, especially if they’re going to withstand the storms of life. One way we can show God how grateful we are for our bodies is by taking care of them. When we do, we win in two ways: We are better prepared for life’s troubles, and we can better enjoy all of the other good things our Father showers on us.

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1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV – 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.

3 John 1:2 ESV – 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.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV – Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?