Torch, Summer 1985

8 Stewardship of Our Bodies by Dr. James L. Holly Editors ofTORCH recently interviewedDr. Holly to get a physician's view ofstewardship. His medical training and study ofthe Scriptures provide him with a rich backgroundfrom which to draw his answers to the questions that follow. Q. What does stewardship mean? One dictionary defines stewardship as the indi– vidual's responsibility to manage his life with proper regard to the rights of others. The Apostle Paul supports this in I Timothy 2: 1-4 where he states: "Here then is my charge: First supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving should be made on behalf of all men: for kings and rulers in positions of responsibility, so that our common lives may be lived in peace and quiet, with a proper sense of God and of our re– sponsibility to him for what we do with our lives. In the sight of God our saviour this is undoubtedly the right thing to pray: for his pur– pose is that all men should be saved and come to realize the truth." (Phillips) This passage affirms that every man is account– able to God for the proper management of his life. Q. Does stewardship relate just to finances? No! The New Testament root word for steward- ship means an overseer. This general term can apply to finances, but also to employment, family, talents, emotions, intellect, and bodies. Steward– ship means to administer or to manage affairs, in our case personal affairs under the providence of God. Q. What Scriptural evidence is there for steward– ship of our bodies? I Corinthians 6: 19-20 states: "What? Know ye not that your body is the tem– ple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Furthermore, we find in I Corinthians 3: 16-17: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." The context of these passages is very helpful. Paul was writing to the Corinthians who were