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What Does the Bible Say About Taking Care of Your Body?

You have have heard that “your body is a temple”…but what does that really mean?

In a world driven by productivity, appearance, and endless, morphing health trends, it’s easy to lose sight of the deeper purpose behind physical well-being.

But the Bible isn’t silent on this matter. Scripture offers clear, practical, and spiritually grounded wisdom on how we should care for our bodies—not just for physical gain, but as an act of worship and stewardship.

In this article, we’ll explore how the Bible speaks to our everyday choices regarding health and self-care, revealing a holistic view that connects our physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.

Here’s what we’ll unpack together:

Let’s dive in.

Why your body matters to God

The Bible does indeed say: Your body is not your own—it’s God’s temple.

Paul writes:

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV).

In other words, we didn’t create ourselves. Got knit us together and created us for goodness and love.

This truth radically changes how we think about taking care of our physical selves. It’s not just about staying active or looking good. It’s bigger than that. It’s about treating our bodies with the reverence and dignity that comes from being the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Today, even in modern psychology and healthcare, the value of a holistic view of human well-being—including body, mind, and spirit—is widely affirmed. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Religion and Health notes that spiritual health plays a critical role in maintaining mental and emotional well-being and should be fully integrated into our understanding of care.1

The heart, soul, and body are interconnected. When one part suffers, all do. God doesn’t separate the spiritual from the physical. He created us as whole beings, and He desires that we thrive in every area of life.

When you practice true self-care—whether through proper rest, healthy eating, or spiritual self-care like spending time in prayer and the Word—you’re acknowledging that your body matters to the Lord.

So, what does this mean practically? Let’s explore some biblical principles next.

Biblical principles for healthy living

Caring for your body isn’t a modern idea. It’s a biblical practice. From Genesis to Revelation, God gives us principles for healthy living rooted in balance, love, and wisdom.

Here are a few:

  • Eat for strength, not just satisfaction: Proverbs 25:27 warns, “It is not good to eat too much honey,” reminding us to practice moderation. The Bible encourages eating for sustenance, not indulgence (NKJV).
  • Get proper rest: Matthew 11:28 invites the weary: “Come to Me…and I will give you rest” (NKJV). True biblical self-care includes adequate rest, which renews both body and soul.
  • Stay active: Though the Bible of course doesn’t describe modern gym workouts, staying active was built into biblical life—walking long distances, manual labour, and discipline were part of everyday living.
  • Practice peace: Philippians 4:7 tells us the “peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds” (NKJV). Emotional and mental self-care are not optional. They’re not extras or bonuses. They are an integral part of caring for your whole self.

These principles aren’t rules to earn God’s love. They are expressions of love toward yourself, your Creator, and others.

By following God’s Word in your daily rhythms, you honour the design of your body, soul, and mind, creating space for healing and holiness.

But how do we maintain these habits over time? That leads us to the following key element: discipline.

Stewardship and discipline: A life of intentional care

Biblical self-care is not passive but intentional. To take care of your body is to steward a gift that was never meant to be misused or ignored.

Scripture urges us:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1, NKJV).

Whether it’s choosing healthy meals, staying consistent with exercise, or prioritising spending time with the Lord, each small act is a form of spiritual discipline. Stewardship is not about perfection. It’s about faithfulness.

And yes, your body will signal when it’s time to slow down, recalibrate, or recharge. Learning to listen to those signals—whether it’s fatigue, anxiety, or spiritual dryness—is part of honoring your body as God’s temple.

When you honour the body God gave you, you align with His rhythm for your life, a rhythm marked by peace, presence, and purpose.

Is this ideal realistic? Let’s look at someone who modeled this perfectly: Jesus.

How Jesus modeled health and balance

A man resting in a park as part of his bodily care routine.

Image by Robert Balog from Pixabay

Jesus, the Son of God, practiced self-care, not in a modern, self-indulgent sense, but in a way that kept Him aligned with the Father’s will.

He rested: Mark 6:31 recounts Jesus telling His disciples,

“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (NKJV).

He nourished Himself with food, both spiritual (John 4:34) and physical (Matthew 14:19). He maintained emotional health through prayer, solitude, and fellowship. He grieved (John 11), celebrated (John 2), and stayed active—walking, teaching, and serving daily.

Jesus also knew when to withdraw and reset, which models how we can balance serving others and taking care of ourselves.

If Christ, in His perfection, made time for rest, connection, and wellness…how much more should we?

When we follow Jesus’ rhythms, we find that true self-care is not self-centered, but Christ-centered. It’s about aligning our body, soul, and spirit to the will of God so we can live joyfully and purposefully.

You are loved, so take care

Your body is a beautiful, sacred vessel—a temple, and a gift, entrusted to you by a loving Creator God.

When you care for it—through eating wisely, spending time in the Word, practicing rest, and engaging in spiritual self-care—you reflect the image of the Creator and honour the Spirit who dwells within you.

Remember: Biblical self-care is not about indulgence, achievement, or checklists. It’s about alignment.

It’s not about chasing perfection, but practicing love—for God, for others, and for the body you’ve been given.

So take a breath. Reconnect. Pause. Rest. And let every act of care be a quiet form of worship.

Ready to start living out a healthier, God-honouring lifestyle?

Visit our Health Section on Hope for Africa to explore more life-changing content rooted in Scripture and wellness.

Start with these two practical reads:

Your journey toward whole-person wellness starts now. Empower your mind, renew your strength, and honour God—one small, faithful step at a time.

  1. Denend, J. V., Ford, K., Berg, P., Edens, E. L., & Cooke, J. (2022). “The Body, the Mind, and the Spirit: Including the Spiritual Domain in Mental Health Care.” Journal of Religion and Health, 61(5), 3571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01609-2 [↵]

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