Physical Training Versus Spiritual Training
This morning I was talking with a woman about the controversy around 1 Timothy 4:8. The verse says, “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. “ Some believe this verse shows that we shouldn’t worry about our physical bodies we should only concern ourselves with our spiritual life. I don’t agree with this thought process.
To me if the point of the verse was that we need to only focus on our spiritual life why would it say “physical training is of some value”? I absolutely think the most important thing in our lives should be our relationship with God. We need to connect with Him, ask Him for help and try to follow the path He has set for us.
I also believe that we, as Christians, need to take care of our physical bodies. I am still in amazement over how God created our bodies to function like they do. I think God wants us to properly take care of His creation.
It makes me sad to see so many in people in our country, especially those who are believers, who aren’t properly caring for their bodies. Too often we aren’t willing to do what it takes to maintain a healthy body.
Now is the time to make the decision to care for God’s awesome creation – your body. The Bible teaches us the value of perseverance. Don’t give up or look for a short cut – exercise, eat healthy and connect with God. You will feel so much better if you do. You will be ready to take on any challenge when you are physically and spiritually strong!!
Lead By Example
I don’t know if you know this but I have three kids 15, 13 and 11. I hear about the challenges kids are facing nowadays. Not only are there the drugs, drinking, smoking, sex issues but they are also challenged to stay healthy. So many kids in our country are overweight – it breaks my heart. Here’s a bit from an article I read on www.kidshealth.org
“The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese. Many kids are spending less time exercising and more time in front of the TV, computer, or video-game console. And today’s busy families have fewer free moments to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals. From fast food to electronics, quick and easy is the reality for many people in the new millennium.
Preventing kids from becoming overweight means adapting the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together. Helping kids lead healthy lifestyles begins with parents who lead by example.”
I put the emphasis on the last line because I wanted you all to realize that if you want your children to live a healthy lifestyle your best bet is to live that way yourself.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” (I find that the book of Proverbs has such great advice on how to live.) Are you talking to them about what a healthy diet looks like, are you exercising and encouraging them to get exercise as well, are you making your relationship with God a priority and talking to your kids about it?
I don’t know if you are old enough to remember an old commercial about smoking. The scene went something like this – a dad and son walking hand in hand (I think they had fishing poles over their shoulders) and the son was trying to do everything the dad was doing. The dad lit up a cigarette and you see the son picking up and looking into the cigarette pack.
Whether you realize it or not your kids (and others) are watching you. They are making decisions about how they will live out their life by what you are doing – I know can be pretty scary.
The most important thing you can do is to make your relationship with God the most important thing in your life. Ask God to help encourage you to take better care of your body. Remember they are watching!!
Live Like You Were Dying
I just got back from a long road trip with my family. We listened to tons of music while driving. One song we heard several times was, “Live Like You Were Dying” Here are the lyrics.
He said I was in my early 40′s,
With a lot of life before me,
And a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
I spent most of the next days, lookin’ at the x-rays,
Talkin’ ’bout the options and talkin’ ’bout sweet time.
Asked him when it sank in, that this might really be the real end.
How’s it hit ya, when you get that kind of news.
Man what ya do.
And he says,
I went sky divin’,
I went rocky mountain climbin’,
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fumanchu.
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I gave forgiveness I’ve been denying,
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
To live like you were dyin’.
He said I was finally the husband,
That most the time I wasn’t.
And I became a friend a friend would like to have.
And all the sudden goin’ fishing,
Wasn’t such an imposition.
And I went three times that year I lost my dad.
Well I finally read the good book,
And I took a good long hard look at what I’d do
If I could do it all again.
And then.
Like tomorrow was a gift and you’ve got eternity
To think about what you do with it,
What could you do with it, what can
I do with with it, what would I do with it.
Sky divin’,
I went rocky mountain climbin’,
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fumanchu.
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I watched an eagle as it was flyin’.
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
To live like you were dyin’.
The song sings about getting the news that you have an illness and you might not make it and how you start living differently when you hear you might die. The line that really got to me was, “I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying”. What hit me was the fact that we are all dying. Every day we live we are one day closer to dying. I don’t mean that in a depressing type of way it’s just the truth – every day we are one day closer to the day we die. So why do so many of us wait to hear the news that we have an illness and the end is coming before we change the way we live?
You could die today or tomorrow so start right now to “live like you were dying”
The other thing that really came to me is that everyone I know is also one day closer to dying. I might not have tomorrow to tell them that Jesus loves them so much that He died on the cross and that if they believe in Him they will spend forever in heaven AND the rest of their life here on Earth will have meaning, joy, excitement, peace and so much more.
Think about it – how you would live if you got the news that you had only a short time left of Earth? If you would radically change the way you were doing things maybe it’s time to start making changes.
Every day you live you are creating the legacy you leave behind. Let’s start living right now, as best we can, the way Jesus did!! Now that’s a fun challenge.