9 A Christian Guide to Body Stewardship, Diet and Exercise and for gospel ministry not idleness or indifference. Effectiveness in ministry. God created the human body to be active, and it is a modern convenience that many people do not need to be active to earn a living. In the New Testament, Paul’s ministry is an example of the physical exertion of travel, manual labor, and tireless preaching in order to minister to others (1 Cor. 15:10; Col. 1:29). There are numerous practical benefits resulting from physical exercise that can enhance our ability to minister to others: sustained vigor, improved focus, emotional stability, and ability to travel to others. God has designed our bodies for physical activity, proper nutrition, and appropriate rest–all of these are his good gifts. While in the short term, a Christian might compromise any one of these, to sustain long-term ministry, the Christian must have each of them in balance. We glorify God by pursuing each of these habits in thankfulness to him and also by willingly sacrificing each of them at times for reasons of gospel risk (2 Cor. 11:23–31; 12:15). The believer might go without sleep for a night to minister to a friend in need or sacrifice bodily health taking the gospel to remote areas. Character formation. Physical exercise can also benefit our growth in character. A person’s character is the sum of his or her disposition, thoughts, intentions, desires, and actions. It is who we truly are, and we are called as Christians to develop Christ-like character (Rom. 8:28-29; 1 John
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