Teaching Points
1. Read the story in Matthew 25:14-28 and consider the following questions.
QUESTIONS:
- How many servants received talents?
- What did the first two do with their talents?
- What did the third servant do with his talent?
- What happened to the servants who gained more by using their talents?
- What happened to the servant who buried his talent?
2. How can physical strength and spiritual strength relate to the story of the talents?
ANSWER:
- 1 Pet 4:10—We are stewards of God’s grace.
- Both your muscles and your mind must be exercised in order to maintain and increase strength; otherwise there is weakness and deterioration.
3. Whose are we? And what responsibility does this give us?
ANSWER:
- 1 Cor. 6:19—You are not your own; you are bought with a price. Your body and spirit is God’s.
- We have a responsibility to glorify God in our body and spirit because they are His—not ours.
OBSERVATION:
- Just like the servants in the story, each of us are given talents.
- Our Spiritual and physical strength is based on the gift of the grace of Christ.
- We have a responsibility to take care of our body temples because Jesus bought us with His blood.
4. What is included in part of God’s last call to His people?
ANSWER:
- Rev. 14:7—Fear God and give glory to him…
- 1 Cor. 10:31—What we eat, drink, and do is related to giving glory to God.
5. How can we bring glory to God in our spiritual life?
ANSWER:
- Psa. 29:1, 2—Worshiping God in the beauty of Holiness brings glory to God.
- Psa. 105:1-5—How to worship? Prayer—call on Him/seek Him; Witnessing—make known His deeds among the people; the Word—Remember His wonderful works and judgments of His mouth.
6. How can we bring glory to God in our physical life?
ANSWER:
- 1 Cor. 10:31—In what we eat, drink, and do.
- Gal. 5:2; 2 Pet. 1:6—Temperance should be a vital part of our lives.
OBSERVATION:
- God is calling His people to give glory to Him. This includes the whole person—physical, mental, spiritual, and social.
- What we do, eat and drink is directly related to physical and spiritual strength, and most of all, glorifying God.
- Spiritual strength comes from Bible study, prayer, and sharing or witnessing.
- Physical strength comes from our eating and drinking habits, and our activities—what we do (exercise, rest, etc.).
- In both the physical and spiritual aspects we should not be pleasing ourselves but rather seeking to please God and do His will.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS:
- What choices are influencing your physical health?
- What physical choices are influencing your spiritual health?
- What spiritual choices are influencing your motivation to stay or be physically fit?
- What things in your life would you have to honestly say dishonor God or need some improvement in order to fully glorify God?
- What talent are you perhaps burying?
7. Read 1 Cor. 9:24-27 and contemplate the following questions.
QUESTIONS:
- What example in verse 24 illustrates what we must do to gain the heavenly prize?
- What discipline does an athlete do to be fit to win?
- What does Paul say he did to gain the prize?
- What does this tell you about why temperance is important?
- Can we win the Christian race with any less preparation?
8. What is God’s desire for us physically and spiritually?
ANSWER:
- 3 John 1:2—to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers.
9. What should we focus on while running?
ANSWER:
- Heb. 12:1, 2—Jesus and His joy while going through the cross.
OBSERVATION:
- Paul relates the Christian preparation and experience to a race.
- Just like the athlete maintains strict eating, drinking, and exercise regime to be prepared to win that race so the Christian should put forth the same energy and discipline to win the spiritual race.
- Paul gives an example of strict discipline—he says he kept his physical desires in subjection to the higher powers of his mind (reason, conscience, and judgment).
- Paul tells us to strive, run that we may obtain that crown of life. We cannot win without strict government of our bodies and minds.
- God’s desire for us is that we will prosper and be in health spiritually and physically.
SOP
- "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the price? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air; but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." In running the race, in order to obtain that laurel which was considered a special honor, those who engaged in running were temperate in all things. They where temperate, that their muscles, and their brains, and every part of them, should be in the very best condition to run. If they were not temperate, they would not have that elasticity that they would have if they were temperate in all things. If temperate, they could run that race successfully. They were more sure of receiving the crown. But notwithstanding all their efforts in the direction of temperance, and to subject themselves to a careful diet, in order to be in the best condition, yet they only ran at a venture. They might do the very best they could, and yet after all not receive the token of honor; for another might be a little in advance of them, and take the prize. One only received the prize. But we can all run in the heavenly race, and all receive the prize. It is not an uncertainty. It is not to run at a risk. We must put on the heavenly graces, with the eye directed upward to the crown of immortality, keeping the Pattern ever before us. He was a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. The self-denying life of our divine Lord we are to keep constantly in view. His life of poverty, humbleness, and self-denial, we must not forget. And then as we seek to imitate him, keeping our eye upon the mark of the prize, we can run this race with certainty, knowing that if we do the very best we can we shall certainly secure the prize. Men ran to obtain a corruptible crown, one that would perish in a day. All this self-denial practiced by those who ran these races was to obtain a corruptible crown, which was only a token of honor from mortals here. {ST, September 18, 1879 par. 9}
- The Christian must lay aside all selfishness, living and working for the good of others. The only way to grow in grace is to do the work that Christ has enjoined upon us, helping and blessing those who need the help we can give. Strength comes by exercise; action is the very condition of life. Those who endeavor to maintain Christian life by passively accepting the blessings that come through the means of grace, and doing nothing for Christ, are trying to live by eating without working. And in the spiritual as in the natural world, this always results in degeneration and decay. A man who would refuse to exercise his limbs would soon lose the power to use them. The Christian who will not exercise his God-given powers, not only fails of growing up into Christ, but he loses the strength that he already had. {ST, March 19, 1902 par. 7}
- The chief if not the only reason why many become invalids is that the blood does not circulate freely, and the changes in the vital fluid, which are necessary to life and health, do not take place. They have not given their bodies exercise nor their lungs food, which is pure, fresh air; therefore it is impossible for the blood to be vitalized, and it pursues its course sluggishly through the system. The more we exercise, the better will be the circulation of the blood. More people die for want of exercise than through overfatigue; very many more rust out than wear out. Those who accustom themselves to proper exercise in the open air will generally have a good and vigorous circulation. We are more dependent upon the air we breathe than upon the food we eat. Men and women, young and old, who desire health, and who would enjoy active life, should remember that they cannot have these without a good circulation. Whatever their business and inclinations, they should make up their minds to exercise in the open air as much as they can. They should feel it a religious duty to overcome the conditions of health which have kept them confined indoors, deprived of exercise in the open air. {2T 525.2}
CONCLUSION:
- God created us to be active mentally and physically.
- We are stewards of our bodies which are God’s temples.
- Because we are bought with Jesus blood, we have a responsibility to glorify Him physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially.
- God’s last day message calls us to fear God and give glory to Him. This includes physical as well as spiritual aspects.
- Diligent effort and temperate habits are required for physical endurance and the same is true for spiritual endurance to win the Christian race.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
- Are you thankful for the gift of health God gave you? Are you showing Him by taking good care of your body?
- Are you a faithful steward of your body and mind?
- What are some good habits that you can develop for improving your spiritual and physical health?
- What are some bad habits that you need to eliminate so that you can improve your spiritual and physical health?
- Are you pleading for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of God’s word and reveal to you ways you can better take care of your body?
- Are you thankful for God’s concern about your physical and spiritual health?
- Are you willing to start exercising daily to improve your health?
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