Read | 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The world’s primary interest in the body is how it looks on the outside: How can it be shaped differently? How can it become more attractive or gain more attention? Regrettably, by worldly standards, success is often dependent on the condition of our bodies.
In contrast, how do you think God views the human body? Do you believe that He is interested only in the soul and spirit, or would you expect Him to also be concerned about our physical bodies?
Despite many popular misconceptions, the Lord is deeply concerned about our human bodies. In today’s passage, Paul confirms this truth when he writes, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.” Again, in 2 Corinthians 6:16, the apostle describes the human body as the temple of God. The context of this passage reveals many of the same errors in thinking that are common today. The Corinthian people had a low view of the body. They believed that it was unimportant and even described it as a tomb in which the soul is incarcerated.
Paul’s response is dynamic. He essentially cries out, “No! The body is not a tomb—it is a temple!” It merits our respect and esteem in the same way that the most holy place of worship deserves upkeep.
The viewpoint of Scripture is crystal clear: Your body is the temple of the living God. This should say something to you about its value and the way you ought to treat it. Furthermore, you should take God’s words as a warning against abusing, misusing, or ignoring your own body.
