Be Spiritually Fit

In our world, we are obsessed with being physically fit. At the turn of the new year, we set “resolutions” to get there. We buy all the latest equipment, diet to set ourselves up for “healthy” living, and set time away in our days for all of the above.

“⁷Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; ⁸for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 5:7-8 (ESV)

Paul cautions Timothy to be more in tune with his spiritual health than his physical health. Even as Timothy was much younger in age, he was and had great potential for spiritual maturity. Paul wanted to make sure that Timothy was devoted to his continued growth and example of that spiritual maturity as godliness holds more for the now and the future.

Don’t get me wrong, we should watch our physical health, because it is difficult to spiritually strong when we are distracted by the failing physical. Our physical should not take the place of our spiritual health. They should work together. Being spiritually healthy will lend to physical health as well as the other way around.

Timothy was much younger than Paul and his age was a difficult thing to overcome with regard to his spirituality in the eyes of the people. I know that several years ago I was a part of a pastor search committee and one of the items on the list of the church was to look for a mature man. God provided a man that was young in age, but mature in faith.

“¹²Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁵Pracitce these things, immerse yourself in then, so that all may see your progress.” – 1 Timothy 5:12-3, 15 (ESV)

God provided the right man for the church, one of spiritual maturity that was able to continue in his growth. Following him, the church found another man of spiritual maturity that continues to grow.

We place too much emphasis on the physical and not enough on the spiritual. Shouldn’t we get right?

When you think about your fitness, where do you think first? In your life, what is more important, physical fitness, or the spiritual? What example are we showing to others? Are you spiritually fit?