Sunday 9th June 2024 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl | Looking after our bodies (Worship series: Balancing life’s demands) | Exodus 20:8-11; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
The ‘rat race’ of modern life
Our pace of life is sometimes called the rat race. A few quotes:
- Julian Hall: ‘You’re only in the rat race if you’re happy to be a rat.’
- Actor, Lily Tomlin: ‘The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.’
- And this one: ‘Just when I caught up with the rat race, along came faster rats!’
Many of us are under constant pressure for greater output. Let’s say an ordinary car engine can do 6,000 revolutions per minute. Push it any harder long term and you’ll blow it up. But a formula one racing car can rev out to 15,000 rpm. The world expects racing car performance. But most of us are not racing cars! No wonder people blow up, burn out, or break down.
Balancing life’s demands
So what can we do about it? Today is part 3 of our series, Balancing Life’s Demands. Through this series we’re hoping to bring the key areas of life into balance: the mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and social.[1] Each one is like a spoke in a wagon wheel – that ideally fit together into a right hub.
Jesus is the Hub of life, the Centre of the universe: he holds all creation together. (Col 1:17 NLT). Friends, no matter how broken or messed up your life is, Jesus can put it back together again. You just need to give him ALL the pieces. Jesus wants to be the centre of your life, so God can bless the rest of your life.
Last week we looked at guarding access to our minds. When thoughts, ideas, or temptations come our way, we take sentry duty over them. We hold up a stop sign and say: “Halt who goes there”. We take every thought captive by asking, “How does this thought, or idea match up with Jesus?” If it doesn’t, we reject it. We grow by knowledge and wisdom by filling our minds with good things -and the best thing of all is God’s Word.
Perhaps last week you went away thinking, “Hey I’m getting stacks of mental stimulation. I’m using my mind all the time; yet I’m struggling to stay focused. Some days it’s like I’m mentally wading through a swamp.” Hmm. Maybe it’s got something to do with your body.
Stephen Covey wrote an influential book: “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” One of his seven habits was “Sharpening the Saw.” He said that trying to work with your mind while your body was out of shape – or not getting enough exercise – was like trying to cut a log of wood with a blunt saw. You can still do it – but it takes a lot more effort. So today’s theme: Looking after our bodies.
God is interested in your physical well-being
Some attitudes you can have toward your body: you can Reject your body, Perfect your body, or Neglect your body. None of these are biblical. The Scriptures tell us to Respect your body and Protect your body. Why? Because God created us with bodies. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31 NIV). Friends, your body is good – and life in your body is a gift from God!
In the Old Testament, you’ll find dietary advice way ahead of their time. About 3,500 years ago, God told the Israelites not to eat animal fat. Now that was written BC – Before Cholesterol – before medical science discovered that eating animal fats clogs up our arteries.
Centuries before we knew about bacteria, God gave detailed quarantine instructions and cleansing rituals regarding infectious diseases; bodily emissions; and contact with dead bodies. Why? To reduce the risk of infections.
Jesus healed people’s bodies. He cured people with leprosy, opened the ears of the deaf and enabled the mute to speak. At the touch and word of Jesus, disabled people could walk, and the blind could see. He delivered people from unclean spirits; and even raised dead people back to life again.[2] These miracles of healing are a glimpse of how our bodies will be fully restored in our resurrection.
God’s Word is seasoned with hints on how to look after our bodies.[3] God knows that if you look after your body, you’ll have more energy, and you’ll get more out of life.
Through his body, Jesus has redeemed our bodies
Every Christmas, we remember that God came to earth in the flesh. He lived among us – as one of us – in a human body. Jesus is fully God and fully human. In Jesus we not only see God, but we also discover the depth of his love for us. Peter writes: He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24a NLT). Jesus lived a perfect life for us – and died for us.
On the third day, Jesus rose again with a transformed physical body. More than 500 people saw him over 40 days. The resurrected Jesus ate and drank with his disciples, taught them and cooked them breakfast.
Jesus has redeemed our full humanity – including our bodies. Since God has united us with Jesus through baptism and faith, our resurrection bodies will be fit for eternity.
Friends, our physical life is inseparably bound up with our spiritual life. Some people in Corinth were mistaken about this. They claimed that what they did with their bodies had nothing to do with their spiritual life. They were arguing that it didn’t matter if they were sexually promiscuous, or visited pagan temple prostitutes, because the physical and the spiritual were separate.
In effect, Paul replies: “That’s a load of rubbish!” He writes: Don’t you realise that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? … Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:15a, 19-20 NLT).
Our bodies are set apart by the Holy Spirit.
What we do with our bodies, to our bodies and in our bodies matters to God.
So how can we honour God by looking after our bodies?
1. Healthy diet
Many Australians are getting less exercise and eating more fast foods. Despite warnings about the dangers of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, joint damage and intestinal disorders, 25% of children and 67% of adults in this country are overweight.[4] Sydney broadcaster, Alan Jones says: “If what goes in doesn’t go out, it goes on.”
The other extreme – e.g. anorexia, bulimia – also causes serious health problems. If we don’t eat enough, we’ll get sick or die! Food is not the enemy. Food is our friend. God created us with physical bodies that need healthy food.
What we take into our bodies determines our health and vitality. Now I’m not a diet expert, but there’s more than enough information to put us on track with good eating.
Reflection:
- Am I eating a balanced diet?
- Am I eating enough of the right things to keep me healthy?
- Am I avoiding things that will damage my health?
2. Regular Exercise
Regular physical exercise appropriate to your age and physical condition is important. Some people are into running, weight training, Pilates, or going to the gym. Others are into bike riding, dancing, or swimming. Others are into gardening or housework. If you’re able, half an hour’s walking each day is one of the cheapest and simplest health measures you can take. If you need support, go walking with someone else.
“But Rolly, I don’t have the time!” Let me ask: “Do you have time to be sick? Do you have time to feel lethargic? Do you have the time to be mentally sludgy and inefficient all day?” Our bodies are not designed for inactivity. That’s why we struggle to stay mentally alert sitting at a desk all day. As the saying goes: “Healthy body, healthy mind.”
3. Health check ups
In my early life, I did lots of tractor driving. When pulling a heavy load, it’s important to watch the gauges. If any gauge moves into the red zone – or lights come on, or buzzers go off – something needs instant attention! If the engine is overheating, changes need to be made e.g. reduce the load, slot down a gear, clean debris off the radiator, make sure the cooling system is OK.
Now most blokes are really switched on with their cars about this. But when it comes to their bodies, that’s another matter! Many wives find it ‘mission impossible’ getting their husbands to see a doctor!
If you ignore red lights on the dashboard, you can blow up your car. It’s the same with our bodies. We need to respond to our ‘warning lights’ when they come on. E.g. a mole changing colour, a persistent headache, stomachache, or pain that won’t go away.
Reflection:
- How are your physical gauges? How’s your weight?
- Are you getting enough sleep?
- Do you wake up tired every morning – even after 8 hours sleep?
- How’s your blood pressure? How’s your digestion?
- Do you have physical symptoms of stress?
Many of these are best checked out by a GP. So, if something’s not right, please make an appointment.
4. Rest and recreation
One of the 10 Commandments the Lord gave to Israel: “Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. You have six days in which to do your work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. Exodus 20:8-10a Good News).
Why does God tell us to have a day of rest from work?
- Because we are not machines, but human beings created for a relationship with God.
- Because we don’t live by work alone, or bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 NLT, Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 8:3).
- Because we need to get our head out of the workplace to cultivate some heart-space!
God gives us a weekly ‘time out’ to stop us from making an idol out of our work – and to re-centre in Him. We remember that our identity is not found in our work, but in God’s love for us in Jesus. By resting from work, we can reconnect with God – and the people who matter to us. By resting, we remember that life is all about relationships.
After a busy time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31 NLT). Now this is the way to work better. If you have regular rest and exercise, you’ll work more efficiently and effectively. Your creative juices will start flowing again. You’ll achieve more in less time. That’s got to be better than dragging yourself to work exhausted – and slogging away all day in a miserable and demoralised heap! Regular rest helps you to work better.
The final way in which you can respect and protect your body is by:
5. Living in harmony with God and people
Listen to this verse: A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body. (Proverbs 14:30 NLT). Would you agree that our emotions affect our physical well-being?
What’s happening inside us emotionally can manifest in physical symptoms. Stress can bring on a headache – or knots in our neck and shoulders. Worry can produce stomach ulcers. Anxiety robs us of sleep and leaves us exhausted. Anger can move us to do destructive things. Like the bloke who in anger went to kick his dog but missed… and broke his foot when it hit the wall. When we’re unsettled or upset, it impacts our physical health.
But: A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body. Being at peace is one key to physical health. We’re going to look at this in more depth in the next few weeks as we focus on the emotional, spiritual and social parts of life.
Remember balance is about integrating the key elements of our life in and around God. I hope today’s message encourages you to keep looking after yourself – to respect and protect your body as a gift from God.
In closing, would you please join me in this prayer?
Heavenly Father, you have created us with a physical body – which is wonderfully made. Lord Jesus, thank you for redeeming us through your body and blood – so we can look forward to our resurrection bodies. Holy Spirit, give us grace and wisdom to honour God with our bodies. Amen. (c. 2120)
An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: www.youtube.com/@stjohnslutheranttg
[1] If you’ve missed the last couple of weeks, please go to our YouTube channel and listen to what we’ve done so far. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC614AslOytkSmHj1hf_HPSg
[2] Prayer for healing has always been part of Jesus’ ministry through his Church.
[3] E.g. In one of his letters, Paul tells Timothy: “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:23 NIV). While this verse is often quoted by people who enjoy wine, the point is that safe drinking water could be hard to find in the ancient world – and Timothy was prone to sickness.
[4] According to the Australian Government research: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity/contents/overweight-and-obesity#How-common-overweight-obesity
St John's Lutheran Church, Tea Tree Gully 