Stewardship Over 6-Packs
Modern society (read: the media) has led us to develop complicated relationships with ourbodies. Too thin. Too fat. Too muscular. Too weak. To some, our bodies are projects requiring constant improvement. Others experience the futility of constant upkeep: aging, illness, pain, limitations. Then some completely disconnect altogether, viewing the body as justanother tool used to get you from one place to another, or to accomplish another task.
I have backgrounds in both counseling and sports/sports medicine. I’ve noticed that our relationship with movement often speaks to our relationship with ourselves. Sometimes we exercise because we believe we (body, soul, and spirit) are never good enough. We push harder, trying to quiet that lie. Or the reverse is true. We avoid movement because it reminds us of shame, comparison, or failure. The real problem is that neither of these extremes invites us to see our bodies the way God intended.
The Word says that our bodies are not just gifts, but temples. God (The Holy Spirit) literally lives inside of us. Not because they’re perfect, but because God has chosen to dwell with us! Our bodies have value, not because they meet a worldly standard of beauty or performance, but because they belong to God! Therefore, it’s important to change our thinking. Instead of asking: “How can I change my body?” we should consider “How can I honor the body God has given me?”
Some days, that may look like taking a brisk walk, or even going for a run (if you’re one of those weirdos who’s into that kind of thing…just kidding…kind of…). Some days, it might look like moving some weights. Some days, it actually looks like taking a rest day; letting a nagging injury heal, or even getting enough sleep. Caring for our bodies requires wisdom, knowledge, and flexibility (no pun intended), all while giving ourselves grace.
Jesus showed us what it means to have regular rhythms of work and rest. He and the disciples would walk long distances, work, and go to weddings and feasts. But when it was time, He would withdraw to quiet places, sleep, and let others care for Him. He demonstrated that physical needs are not obstacles to spiritual growth, but rather part of the human experience.
When we think about exercise as stewardship instead of punishment, it becomes less about earning our worth to the world and more about expressing gratitude to the Father. We work out because our bodies are gifts. We rest because our bodies have limits. We eat the right foods because God designed our bodies to need them for nourishment. These simple mindset changes can open the door to greater peace, deeper gratitude, and healthier ways of connecting to the body that God has lovingly created and blessed us with. It isn’t about earning God’s love, but rather, responding to the love He already shows us.
