How concerned should we be about our health? One friend of mine thinks about his health all the time and spends a couple of hours every day in the gym, while another friend hardly pays any attention to his health. But both claim to be Christians, and they both quote the Bible to support the way they are living. Which one is right? — J.H.

Instead of trying to decide which one is right or wrong (which I can't do anyway, because I don't know them), let me simply tell you three things that the Bible says about our bodies and how we should take care of them.

First, the Bible tells us that God gave our bodies to us, just as surely as He gave us our souls. In fact, when God created Adam, He first made his body and only then gave him his soul: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7, KJV).

Second, God wants us to take care of our bodies. He gave them to us, and we are to use them for His glory (especially as Christians). We aren't to abuse them or neglect them; we are to use them for God's service. The Bible says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you? ... You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Finally, we aren't to worship our bodies or make them the center of our lives, as some people do. Instead, we are to put Christ and His will first, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things" (1 Timothy 4:8).