by: Robert Ullo
1 Timothy 4:7-8
I am not much of a health nut as one could easily see by my physique. Every once in a while I will get inclined to walk for a few weeks, but it is not really something I do on a regular basis. I have an elliptical machine at my house. I have tried it before, but once again it is just not something for me. I used to lift weights with some guys in Texas. We used to gather together on Tuesday nights, but really it was more of a good time of fellowship than a time of exercise. I pulled a muscle one night and while it was in the process of healing, we moved away. It was no fun doing it by myself, so I used that as an excuse not to be motivated to exercise anymore. I am sure at sometime in the future I will get some sort of a short time epiphany and start to exercise again, but honestly, I do not expect it to last that long considering my history.
What is exercise anyway? The typical definition is just what you heard a few minutes ago. It is generally considered physical activity done over and over to make one stronger. A more basic definition would be a little more broad in its scope. It is regular or repeated use of a faculty or something that is done to develop a particular skill. For instance, a friend of mine, Bro. Matney can honestly say he exercises. Why? Because I know that he regularly practices the piano in order to continue to be a fit player. I have given you an excuse to use now for the rest of your life. Wow! That means that I exercise too. I put a lot of repetitive time in on purpose – you could call it training – in order to study the Word of God so that I can bring messages. I continually exercise my mind by mulling over and over the same thoughts in sort of a mental push-up or pull-up. As I was performing one of those exercises, I came up with this article about exercise. But what about you? How can the average Christian exercise? Yes, you can do it as well. As a matter of fact, we can all do it. We can exercise our Christianity on a daily basis. In short there are some things we should do repetitively and habitually in order to strengthen what God has given us. I am not talking about push-ups, but I am talking about spiritual exercise and it is in the Bible.
We must exercise godliness.
1 Timothy 4:7 says, “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” Now before I give this example, I want to put to bed the previous type of exercise biblically. Here it is in the very next verse: (1 Tim 4:8) “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” I know it agrees with my statement, but in all reality I want you to look at the verse in reference to the article. The reason this verse is in the Bible is not to tell you not to keep yourself healthy, but the context is really in the last part of the verse. It says, “having the promise of life that now is…” Exercise has proven benefits to increase length of life. But at the end of the verse the Bible says “and of that which is to come.” We are to put more emphasis on exercising godliness because in the life to come we will not have to worry about our bodies. We need to spend more time on exercising for the eternal than for the temporal. That is true godliness. I am not telling you not to take care of yourself, but I am telling you if you want a greater benefit for life that will truly last, then exercise godliness on purpose. Exercise it regularly. Make it a repetitive movement like jumping jacks or sit-ups. Do it over and over until you have the greatest spiritual abs around.
We must exercise humility and maturity as a Christian. (Psalm 131:1-2)
Here in one of the shortest chapters in the Bible, we find an exercise of humility. We find out what David thinks is really important. He gives a an exercise program here. The first exercise on the list is not to be haughty. After you have taken a rest and gotten something to drink then let’s move on to the other humility station. Just like haughtiness, loftiness is a problem with people who hang around in gyms. They are constantly standing in front of the mirrors flexing their muscles. They are not really looking at anything. They want you to look at themselves. That is exactly what David is saying here. Our spiritual maturity level should be such that we should not have to flex our muscles in front of everybody. People should walk by and say, “Wow!! Did you see that guy? He must be a Christian. I mean look at the way he acts in public. What an example he is!” Then comes that station every weightlifter likes to go to. You know the one where he can pick up the most weight. That is not what David said. David said we do not need to worry about the great matters or high things. Look at the next verse. It is low weight and lots of reps. That is the best way to tone. That is the truth of Christian maturity. (Psalm 131:2) “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”
We must exercise our hearts.
Ecclesiastes 1:13 says, “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.” We can also go back to the book of Proverbs for a lesson in this. People who are in exercise competitions like big belts and shiny awards. Proverbs 4:7-8 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.” Exercising wisdom is one of the greatest exercises of the heart. It shows what condition your heart is really in. Every time you go to the doctor, what is the first thing he does? He checks your pulse, your blood pressure, and then uses a stethoscope to hear your heart. A Christian who uses godly wisdom to make choices in life is spiritually fit for the work of God. This is an exercise that we must all get good at.
We must exercise a good conscience
Acts 24:16 says, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” A spiritually strong Christian has a good moral compass. They are concerned about what other people think. Sometimes we exercise pride, but unfortunately that does nothing more that break down the muscles. A Christian should never have the attitude – I don’t care what other people think. That is the wrong attitude if you want to be a witness to them. That is the wrong attitude if you want to be a good example. That is the wrong attitude if you want to have a good testimony and a good reputation. It is an important part of your exercise regimen. That exercise not only affects your conscience in not offending others, but as the verse says, it is an exercise in your relationship with the Lord.
You should exercise your ability to discern good and evil.
This is why the repetitive, consistent, faithful attitude of a Christian is so important. The Bible says in Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Every good Christian needs a diet of fresh meat that will keep them healthy. You need that time of mental exercise in the Word of God. You need that time of spiritual exercise in prayer. You need that regular or repeated use of purposely staying away from those things which are bad for your spiritual health and eating more of that which is good for your spiritual health.
I may not like a lot of physical exercise, but this stuff is right up my alley. I may never have big muscles or flat abs, but I can look good in front of that spiritual mirror. That is really the important thing. I am the man I have to look at in the mirror every day and that is what I want to see.
Robert Ullo
Pastor
Bible Baptist Church
Spanish Fork, AL