Exercise Yourself Toward Godliness

-October 25, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having a promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”

(1 Timothy 4:7-8).

Americans spent so much time and money exercising. People want to stay healthy, be fit, and feel good. There is nothing wrong with that at all. Paul says that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness profits for now and for all eternity. The priority for us as believers should be on the spirit, the soul, and the body in that order. Heavenly things are vastly more important than earthly ones; spiritual things are way more important than earthly ones; and eternal things are of a much higher priority than temporal ones.

Paul advises Timothy to focus most on what matters the most: godliness. To exercise our spiritual muscles is the key to our spiritual health and well being. While bodily exercise is good, spiritual exercise is even better. It is good to do both as long as we prioritize our lives around the things above. There a many parallels between physical and spiritual exercise. They are both challenging, take a lot of effort, but bring joy and pay dividends for us. The main difference is the opposition that Satan gives us for our spiritual exercise that we don’t get for physical workouts.

Some people walk, some jog or run, and some lift weights, or train for and play sports. They are all good. In the spiritual realm, there are several distinct things we can do to exercise ourselves to godliness: pray, read and study the Word, share our faith with others, and encourage and help others in need. Each of these things requires our our time, effort, and even our money. Are we willing to pay the price to pursue godliness and spiritual exercise? It is so worth it when we do!

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” He also urged Timothy, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:11-12). While physical exercise helps us in this life, spiritual exercise helps us for all eternity.

Have a blessed day in the profitable things of godliness. Stay safe and healthy.

Just as we have to fight for time to exercise our bodies, we must fight even harder to spend time in prayer and the Word. I enjoy my physical workouts that I do, but not as as I enjoy my much spiritual workouts. I have a treadmill and I walk briskly for 4-5 miles and pray while walking. I call it “my prayer walk.” It is my favorite multitasking. Let us exercise ourselves toward godliness, and get in some good physical exercise also.

In His grace,

Dean