Life is fragile. Most of us know someone who seemed like the picture of health before receiving a terminal diagnosis or dying suddenly from a heart attack. Sometimes you make good choices and take care of yourself, only to succumb to the effects of living in a fallen world. Nevertheless, what we can control, we should.

The holiday season may seem like the worst time to talk about health. I get it. I like festive meals and pie. I also like chocolate, greasy burgers, fried chicken wings, and Dr Pepper. But a commitment to caring for the body God provided me motivates me to prioritize good decisions in every season.

What does this have to do with ethics? I believe taking care of your body is as much an ethical issue as a physical one. There are three reasons why a healthy ministerial ethic should include a commitment to healthy living.

First, your body is a temple. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, the apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Paul was arguing against sexual impurity on the basis that the believer’s physical body is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. It follows, then, that we should also avoid other things that would taint or damage that temple.

Second, a physical body is necessary for fulfilling your God-given mission. Paul makes it clear in 2 Corinthians 5:1 that believers get two bodies — an earthly body and an eventual heavenly body. Your earthly body is the only vehicle for ministry you have. When it becomes too worn out, depleted, damaged, or sick to continue functioning, the body dies. Whether you’ve done everything God has assigned to you or not, you’re finished.

Finally, God cares about your body. The creation narrative in Genesis shows the care God takes in making human life. In the Gospels, the restoration of bodies is a key component of Jesus’ ministry. And 1 Thessalonians 4 reveals God will eventually raise our physical bodies in the process of making all things new. If God created and cares about my body, I too should care about it and for it.

You don’t have to train like an Olympian to get in better shape, but you do need to start somewhere.

The goal in healthier living is progress, not perfection. You don’t have to do this perfectly; simply make a commitment to improve. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying food, but there is value in self-control. You don’t have to train like an Olympian to get in better shape, but you do need to start somewhere.

Chances are, you could live a healthier lifestyle with a few minor changes in your daily routine. As you enjoy the holidays with family and friends and turn the corner into the new year, consider taking a few healthy baby steps in the right direction:

• Become accountable. Ask someone to help you on your health journey. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help, but having a friend, spouse, co-worker or personal trainer nudge you in the right direction could be just the motivation you need to meet your goals.
• Shop wisely. If you buy the right food when grocery shopping, you’ll make the right food when you’re at home cooking. If you buy junk food at the store, you’ll reach for it at home.
• Use portion control. During the holidays, there are plenty of opportunities to overindulge, from family meals with turkey and stuffing to office parties with cookies and pies. If you’re trying to lose weight, you may find that simply eating less will help. Enjoy the food. Just don’t go back for seconds.
• Move more. Exercising and staying in shape are important, but these things can also be challenging in a ministerial job that is often sedentary. Walk several times a week with a friend or your spouse. Or take solitary walks and use them as prayer times. Count steps using a phone app, and see if you can get in a few more each day.

As a Bible-centered believer, I’m pro-life, which means I am against the premature termination of life in the womb. But that same conviction means I am also against people making decisions that, over time, lead to the premature termination of their lives as adults.

Ministerial ethics demand we steward our physical bodies in such a way that we do not abort God’s plan for our lives because we’re no longer healthy enough to complete it.

As with most other things in life and leadership, your physical health isn’t just about you. It’s about enjoying a long life of impact for Jesus on your family, church, community and world. And as you take steps toward better health, your journey will inspire others who want to change but need a godly example to follow.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2020 edition of Influence magazine.