Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

I actually laughed at this verse this morning, not because it's a joke, but because just this week I've been feeling the affects of my increased workouts getting ready for a testing and tournament. My body is not 20 anymore, so it's been rebelling a bit. I'm more sore than usual, trying to up my protein intake, and attempting to stay in motion so as not to get stiff. But it's worth it! It's all worth it - the soreness, the strained muscles, the fatigue - it's all good! I like to see how far I can push myself without actual injury. I feel good and I have energy for days.

But two things stand out to me with this verse. One is that I myself tend to put my physical training before my spiritual training, foregoing church for the past several years with the excuse that I need Sunday mornings to work on my exercise plans. That's what that is - an excuse. What I should do is manage my time more wisely to complete my exercise plans at another time, thus freeing up Sunday mornings for fellowship (not that I believe going to church will make me more spiritual, but it is a fellowship that is important to my development as a Christian).

The second thing is our current society's obsession with physical fitness, body image and health status as it pertains to a person's overall worth in society. We are slammed every day with articles about fitness, eat this not that, do this to lose weight, do this to sleep better, don't do that to have more energy. It's crazy the amount of information that is out there. Then there's the internet age's superstars, those who post blogs and pics of their fitness journeys. You have probably seen them and the amount of both haters and supporters they have. Americans in particular have an obsession with it all.

Both of these take our focus away from our spiritual fitness and spending time with God. He doesn't require us to be in a prayer closet 24 hours a day, but I think he'd like more than a passing nod. I can't have an intimate relationship with him like he wants if I don't spend time with him. Just like with physical training, I can't have a good relationship to it if I don't spend time training. I can't talk about taking a class and expect to see results. I have to engage. That's what God wants - he wants us to engage him. And he's not expecting you to be a couch potato either, so God knows there is value in staying healthy which does require a modest level of exercise.

Here's to staying healthy both physically and spiritually and to understand the importance and place for each in our lives.