Devotionals

Care For Body and Soul

by Doug Laird 
09/20/21
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The Care of BODY and SOUL

‘…for bodily discipline (exercise/diet) is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (1Tim. 4: 8 NASB parentheses mine).”

If there were ever a Bible verse that would not likely be displayed on the walls of a gym, it would be 1Tim. 4: 8! But to the disappointment of many couch potatoes, this verse is not dismissing the principle of good stewardship regarding the care and maintenance of the natural body housing our souls.

While NOT dismissing due care for the condition and appearance of the body, this verse IS prioritizing what should be our concern for our everlasting soul over our concern for our temporary body (Matt. 10: 28).

When interpreting Scripture, it is important to perceive the spiritual messages behind the overt activity or objects in view. The 1Tim. 4: 8 “little profit” is a reference to the relatively BRIEF time that one MIGHT benefit from diet and exercise of the body, as opposed to NEVER-ENDING eternity in which the soul WILL experience either divine benefits or condemnation.

The physical body is the dwelling place of the soul during one's appointed time here on Earth. During the Church Age, the body of all born again believers is also a temple of God (1Cor. 3: 16). At the moment of physical death, the soul departs, but lives on, whereas the body turns to dust (Gen. 3: 19).

The only eternal significance of the decaying corpse (or dust) of a departed born-again believer is that it will be raised in the form of a resurrected body when the Rapture (1Thess. 4: 16, 17) takes place. In the meantime, the departed souls of born-again believers are in interim bodies in Heaven (2Cor. 5: 1)

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Stewardship requires due care of ofr bodies, and believers are to demonstrate respect for God’s temple (1Cor. 3: 16) during our time here on Earth.

For many of us, if we were to spend as much time and energy focused on the status and maintenance of our edified soul structure (Matt. 7: 24 - 27), as we do our temporary body, the quality of our post salvation spiritual life would be greatly improved.