Throughout my life, I have gone through seasons and stages when I have been inspired to work out and stay fit. During my secondary school days, I just wanted to be ‘buff enough to impress girls’, and I failed miserably. While at university, I had a similar goal but lacked the motivation to pursue this ideal look I had in mind. In the months leading to our wedding, my wife and I decided we would have our honeymoon on the south coast of Italy – so I decided I would try to achieve an ideal honeymoon beach body such as the ones portrayed in popstar magazines.
As the years have gone by, I’m now 30, and my motivations have changed, but what hasn’t changed is how fickle these motivations are. Some people are naturally motivated to work out and exercise – as of the recent four years, I consider myself in this camp. Across my social media platforms, I would post my weekly training regimen and get shout-outs from friends and followers. As I scroll past comments and likes, what others don’t see is that these motivations go up and down like a child on a trampoline. What if the results from my workouts lasted forever? Would I be more motivated?
During the Premier League Season – the most watched football league in the world – I am always in awe of the long-range goals and the athleticism expressed by teams competing for this ultimate prize, the Premier League title and trophy. I’m impressed by the players’ athletic excellence – but I’m even more impressed when I think about the disciplined training it takes the teams to get there. At the end of this football season, the victorious team stands on the winners’ podium with joyful smiles on their faces and winners’ medals resting on their chests – lifting the ultimate trophy, reaping the benefits of their disciplined training through the duration of the season.
Do we ever wonder what God thinks of our workout routines? We find the answer in 1 Timothy 4:7-8. According to God’s Word in scripture, the Bible, there’s a far more superior kind of training. Not to say that physical training is useless or worthless, but it is limited:
“But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
God says it has beneficial means but has limited value. So, while running on the treadmill or country park, doing drills, and lifting weights, we should know that it is a good thing to do if we are able to do it. Keeping our bodies in good shape is commendable – even wise – but it will only get us so far.
In the passage from 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul commands Timothy:
“But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8)
We could sum up the Apostle Paul’s thoughts on physical exercise thus: Physical training is good, but spiritual training is far better. And that’s because physical strength is temporary, while godliness is eternal. When Paul talks about “training for godliness”, I think he means doing the things that make us spiritually stronger. It means engaging in the activities that make us godlier.
Maybe lifting our Bible is even less desirable than lifting a weight, but neglecting it means we miss out on more than good health. We all know that when something lasts longer, it’s more desirable. No one buys a car knowing it’ll break down the following month. We’d rather buy something that lasts a while because we’ll get more out of the investment. But if we’re so calculated with car decisions, how much more calculated should we be about our souls? How often do you think about your eternity? The truth is, we should think about it more than we do. There’s no question that all of us will live forever; the question is what that forever will be like. So, we should make investments now, knowing that the consequences will never end. This should impact what we focus on from day to day. Sports are good, but they’re not everything. Your physical strength may get you to places on Earth, but it won’t get you into Heaven.
You should take good care of your body, but we have something weightier to care for. How healthy is your soul? God enables us to build “spiritual muscle” when we let go of sin and grab hold of Jesus. And then he sends us to the gym. He’s graciously given us his word, his people, and even his ear. So let’s read, fellowship, and pray. Athletes train hard because they want to be prepared for the game or match ahead of them. They want to be able to compete at a high level. All of us will face spiritual tests, trials, and battles every day. Are you prepared? Coasting doesn’t work for athletes, and it won’t work for Christians.
Last year’s Bible reading isn’t enough to sustain you this year. We’ll only make it through this marathon by God’s grace, but He prepares us for the race through our spiritual exercise. It’s helpful for me to remember that while the benefits of physical training are limited, the benefits of spiritual training are unlimited. On those days when I don’t feel like praying or reading God’s Word, I can remind myself that the benefit isn’t small or temporary. It won’t only help me next week; it will help me in the next life. That’s all the motivation I need.
