When someone writes me about wanting to lose weight or change a negative health habit, one of the first questions I usually ask is WHY? Why is changing important to you?

I have discovered that if you have a strong enough 'Why,' you will figure out the 'How'. You will commit to giving the change process however long it needs to finish.

In the Bible, I discovered the strongest reason 'Why' to change ever, specifically for those who love God. As a former pastor of mine said before delivering a particularly hard message, "You better put on your steel-toed shoes because this is going to step on someone's feet!"

So this is going to be a hard message for some. But I love you and I want to see you finish well in life. Here we go:

In Luke 12:42-46, Jesus tells a parable: "And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.'"

A steward is someone appointed to look after another's property. In the parable, Jesus names two character traits of a commendable steward: wise and faithful. A wise person applies the knowledge he or she gains to make profitable decisions. Profitable decisions are those that yield positive results.

A faithful person keeps on doing what she knows to be right day after day - no matter how she feels or the outward circumstances.

Jesus calls the wise and faithful steward "Blessed."

However, Jesus tells of an alternative attitude a steward can take. In the alternate scenario, the steward said to himself, "My master is delayed in coming." Because the steward thought he could get away with it, he decided it was okay to neglect or abuse his stewardship.

He did the following:

• Mistreat his fellow servants
• Overindulge in food
• Overindulge in alcohol and get drunk

But the unwise, indulgent steward got caught with his pants down, so to speak; the master returned on a day the steward wasn't expecting. When the master saw how the man abused his stewardship, the man was punished severely and the stewardship given to others.

Why am I telling this story? In all of our attention on health and weight loss, one inescapable fact has been lost: Jesus is coming back soon. And He will come on a day that we do not expect!

How would He evaluate your stewardship today? Each of us has stewardship over everything we have, including our bodies:

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)."

Because your body does not belong to you, you do not have the right to treat it any way you please!

It does not matter what you think you can get away with at the moment; just like in the parable, the day of reckoning is coming on a day you do not expect. Too often, we ask God to take away the consequences of poor health habits (excess fat, disease, or infirmity), but still to want to indulge in the behaviors that led in those results in the first place.

A wise and faithful steward always keeps this in mind regarding health matters:

1. Your body does not belong to you.

2. You are responsible for taking caring of your body.

3. You must take care of your body daily, no matter how you feel or what outward circumstances occur.

In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus gives this warning: "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:34-36)."

If you realize that your stewardship has been unwise, then don't waste time condemning yourself. If you feel convicted, then repent sincerely and God will forgive you. Conviction leads you to a better way whereas condemnation wants you to stay where you are. This is an issue of a weighed-down heart. God is the only one who can fix a heart. A diet can't.

Lasting change has to start with this: "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment (Mark 12:30)."

Here is what this means:

• Loving the Lord with all your heart speaks to an intention to love Him, fixing your attention towards Him

• Loving Him with all your soul speaks to deep desire, longing for His presence

• Loving Him with all your mind speaks to logic - learning about His character and His ways through His word: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."

• Loving Him with all your strength speaks to your obedience to His Word. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (John 14:21)."

Obedience to God's word is not optional for those who love Him. 

If you focus on loving God like this daily, don't you think your stewardship would change daily? You bet it would! You can do this through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

I pray that you receive this message in the Spirit of love in which it is intended. Decide today that you will become a wise and faithful steward.

I know you will be blessed beyond measure!

Kimberly Taylor

Take Back Your Temple
www.takebackyourtemple.com

P.S. If you need wisdom to reach your weight loss goals more efficiently, then check out my Take Back Your Temple ebook Bundle. It comes with 8 eBooks that help you deal with common weight loss trouble spots.

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There is no time like the present to become a good steward over the wonderful gift God has given you in your body and your health. So go ahead and click the link so you can get started right now:

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book