Wednesday, August 12, 2015
1 Timothy 4:8-10 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
A FAITHFUL SAYING (3)
Paul here makes a connection between our physical bodies and our spiritual lives. No one would argue that an inactive lifestyle is healthy. Plenty of modern research points to the importance of staying fit and active. At times the ability to exercise is taken away by some other health ailment but more often than not people choose to be inactive out of laziness. It's always easier to sit on the couch and relax than to go for a run.
Another hard part about exercising is that in order to make it worth it, you need to push your body to its limits. If you exercise regularly but never sweat or work hard, chances are you're not really making a good use of your time. All of these things have a spiritual application in our lives as well and Paul reminded Timothy that it is important to remember the connection.
How would you describe your spiritual physique? Are you fit and trimmed like a world-class athlete or are you out of shape or even obese? If you rarely or never dig into your Bible on your own, you’re not going to be very fit. If you only exercise one day a week (Sunday) you're not going to be fully prepared to compete against the sinful desires, temptations, and hardships that come your way. If you simply regurgitate what you already know again and again without pushing yourself to dig deeper in the Word, you won't be spending your time wisely.
It's always easier to say "no." There's plenty of other options out there to spend your time on. Flipping on the TV and clicking on the internet are always more convenient than opening the pages of your Bible and "searching the Scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11). But we know what's more important. Paul says that exercising our spiritual selves holds value for more than just this life because we learn about our Savior. Doing what's important is not about what is more convenient, it's about what is more vital. Find a way to exercise every day, stay disciplined in that task, and continue to push yourself so that you continue to grow.
