On the 26th day of Christmas my true love gave to me a temple for his honor and glory (2 Chronicles 2:1).
I remember the days when I would spare no expense, going on trips on a whim and purchasing items that fancied me. Being naturally frugal, I managed to keep myself in check, occasionally pausing to ask if I really needed what I wanted to buy. Sometimes I think this frugality creeps into my spiritual life, preventing me from extravagantly taking care of my body, the temple of God. When I read the details after the following verse, I got convicted:
And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.—2 Chronicles 2:1.
Solomon said he was going to build a house for God and he did, using thousands of skilled people and the very best materials he could get. He wanted the best for God so His name would be known, so God would receive glory. Solomon’s temple typified Jesus Christ, the perfect temple for the glory of God the Father (John 2:19). And now our bodies are the temples of God, meant to show forth His glory (1 Corinthians 6:19). I don’t know about you, but I have some work to do so my temple better reflects the glory of God.
It’s too easy for me to look at Solomon or people I know with great means and say he could spare no expense because he was rich. Or they can work out because they have a gym membership or have time to study the bible and eat small healthy meals. The truth is we all possess what we need to have the best temples that we can have. Whatever is in our reach we must use to get our house in order so we are physically and spiritually able to do more for Jesus Christ and His kingdom. No more wasting time complaining about how hard it is for us. We must spare no expense—including the sacrifices of exhaustion and inconvenience—getting our bodies in order so our minds and physiques reveal that we have been working hard for God’s glory.
What are you determined to build your temple for? Is it to have a bangin’ body so you can look cute in that cute dress so people can say you look cute and you can think “I know I’m cute”? Do you want to build your endurance so you can run that marathon you always wanted to run? Are you building your body for pure beauty or athleticism? Remember, 1 Timothy 4:8 says “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith