Topic(s): Christian Life, God's Will

Bob Prichard

The human body is a marvelous machine, designed by the God of the universe. “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). Man is a unity of body, spirit, and soul, and must be concerned with keeping himself pure. As Paul wrote, “Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:22-23).

The scriptures state that man (and woman) was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and the body and soul go together. “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The body is also the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The body is not to be worshipped, but to be preserved.

In light of these facts, the Christian is compelled to avoid those practices that hurt and pollute the body. Addictive habits, such as the use of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol, enslave and eventually destroy the body. Paul warned, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). The damage to the human body evidenced by these things is unquestioned. The Christian who wants to please God will avoid these traps that hurt the temple of the Holy Spirit.

A common sin among Christians, however, which is also damaging to the body, is the sin of gluttony. Earlier Christians considered it as one of the “seven deadly sins,” because of what it leads to. Gluttony may make a person fat, which is unhealthy physically, but the more serious problem is spiritual. Gluttony also enslaves. Paul surely thought of gluttons, and other sinners, when he wrote, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” (Philippians 3:17-19).

Paul himself understood the necessity of self-control. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

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