Sweat Equity

As I headed out to the gym this morning, I paused briefly to fix the verse for the day in my mind. God, whose sense of humor is as grand as the universe, led me to 1 Tim 4:8. I know you'll laugh with me when you read this...

The Word...

1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

⁸ 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.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

So anyway, I'm back from the gym now and my clothing is heavy with the sweat from my workout. It was a hard workout. Not only had I missed all my workouts last week while traveling, but I cranked up the resistance this morning. The reward for my effort was 500 calories burned, 3.7 miles run and 1.25 miles climbed.

This year I've been working out in an effort to lose weight, improve my muscle tone and secure a better future for myself and my family. It's been neither easy nor fun and it requires as much discipline as anything I've even engaged in. The more I do, the more remains to be done! Yet for all it's effort, the effects of my commitment are transient. A few months in the buffet line and I'll be right back where I started, or worse. What I've really done is committed myself to a lifetime of vigilance with respect to my physical well-being and more importantly 'temple stewardship.'

Now, contrast this with the commitment to a daily devotional or my spiritual exercise. I've committed myself to this effort in order to grow closer to God, nourish the fruit of righteousness and to increase wisdom in all matters of importance. These things I do are to secure a better future for myself and my family. It is not easy but it is often fun. It requires more discipline that I have but it is self-perpetuating. The more I do, the more I want to do. Yet the effects of my commitment are not transient! Indeed, they are eternal.

Consider that concept for a minute. Go ahead, I'll wait. It's tough for us to think in terms of eternity because frankly, our watches, calendars, clocks and schedules simply do not reflect that concept. Yet it is for eternity that we labor. Whereas my commitment to physical stewardship is a commitment for a lifetime, my commitment to spiritual stewardship is a commitment for thousands of thousands of thousands of lifetimes.

And unlike physical discipline, spiritual discipline is not about looking good; it's about being and doing good. In today's study verse, Paul uses the term 'godliness' and it is here that we need to pause. In this passage, Paul is contrasting the concept of physical training (and it's temporal nature) to godliness and it's eternal nature.

Whereas the physical aspect is one of training and preparation, the concept of godliness is of action and immediacy. By action, I do not mean to imply only physical action but rather action in your mind, heart and body. By committing yourself to being a 'man of God' and by conducting yourself always in a 'godly' manner you are preparing yourself for the eternity in which you are already living.

Now truth be told, this verse is not meant to imply that physical training (exercise, diet) is to be eschewed for spiritual training. Rather it is an exhortation to keep you priorities straight. For instance, if your daily workout routine is getting in the way of godly living, guess which one has to go? Sit-ups and push-backs are no replacement for prayerful living and loving others. As Paul said, "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."

Sweaty,
Carl