The Bible teaches that a person is more than just a body- each of us is actually a living spirit. We are created in the image of God, and just as our bodies have needs, characteristics and appetites, so do our spirits.

The characteristics of our spirit are Intelligence, emotion, will, and an insatiable appetite to worship something greater than us. Our spirits long for peace, contentment and happiness, but most of all our spirits have an appetite for God: a longing to be reconciled to the Creator and fellowship with Him forever.

In our material world we give most time and attention to satisfying the appetites of the body and practically none to the sprit. This has been dramatically evidenced by the latest revelations of expenses abuse by MP's, where some have used a failing system to their material advantage. The difference between them and many others is only that they have been found out, as there are countless thousands who, for example, fiddle their taxes, abuse the benefit system or put in for extra mileage at the end of the month. In all such cases, it is to feed our material desires. Consequently we have become one sided. We become materially fat, while spiritually we have become lean and weak.

We can also spend a lot of time, energy and money on fad diets, expensive gym memberships and equipment which only reinforces our preoccupation with the body and the material world. It is true our bodies have been given us by God as well as our spirit and we need to take good care of them. But we need to get the right balance. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him, and said,

"Train yourself in Godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, Godliness is of value in every way as it holds the promise for the present life and the life to come." ( 1Timothy 4:7-8)

The spirit actually demands greater attention than the body. It demands relationship with God, it demands worship, quietness and meditation, it demands justice and truth and it craves having a purpose to live for. Nothing but God ever truly satisfies, because the spirit was made for God, and without God it is restless.

If you are a Christian I encourage you to spend time learning from the bible and giving good meaningful time to worship. Also ensuring that you have a purpose to live for, and you are about God's mission.

If you are not a Christian then it is time to give attention to your spirit, find a good church that will help you get spiritually fit. Become the man/woman you where designed by God to be.