At the beginning of a new year, many resolutions are made pertaining to physical fitness, i.e. losing weight, exercising, eating healthier.

Have you noticed how many fitness places there are?    I wish all these places well, hoping they can help multitudes lose weight and get fit.  I certainly could stand to lose weight myself, especially right after Christmas.

Did you know that the Bible commends physical fitness?   I Timothy 4:8 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.”     Even a simple exercise like walking benefits our cardio-vascular system, helps with depression, diabetes, and more.   Physical exercise makes us feel better in general.  

If you are not doing some kind of physical exercise, I trust that you will begin soon.

But let us go back and visit our Scripture verse once again.  Indeed it does say that “physical training is of some value.”   however it goes on to say “but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  The reason that physical training is only of some value is that it is beneficial only for the present life.  The reason that godliness has “value for all things” is that it has benefits for both the present life and the life to come.   In other words, being spiritually fit is far more important than being physically fit.

How does one become spiritually fit and stay fit?    Hundreds and perhaps thousands of books have been written on this subject.   It begins by entering into a personal relationship with God by means of turning from our sin nature and placing our faith in God’s son Jesus.  There is no spiritual fitness or spiritual life without being made right with God, even though multitudes have tried.

Once a person enters into a relationship with God, he can become spiritually fit by nurturing his fellowship with God.   This fellowship is built by spending time alone with God in his Word and in prayer.  A Christian will never be spiritually fit without either of these practices.

The flip side of spending time alone with God is to be involved in activities that build spiritual muscles.   Three of these are personal evangelism, using one’s spiritual gift in ministry, and tithing/ giving of financial resources. 

 Even if Jesus didn’t give us the Great Commission, we should be involved in sharing the gospel with others because it builds spiritual muscles.  Even if hell were not real, we should be involved in personal evangelism because it keeps us spiritually fit.

Each believer receives a spiritual gift upon his second birth, even though it may not be apparent until late teen or early adult years.   One’s primary ministry is built around his spiritual gift, even though there are other areas of ministry that all believers can be involved in no matter what their spiritual gift.  Using one’s spiritual gift and being involved in ministry builds spiritual muscle.

The tithing of one’s income and giving over and above the tithe also builds spiritual muscle.   Even if your church had a surplus of funds, we should tithe because it contributes to spiritual fitness.  Even if there were not multiple ministries through your church’s budget and other Christian ministries that need funds, giving to them builds spiritual muscle. 

Many of the ways to build spiritual muscle mentioned above can be done on one’s own, but the Lord never intended being spiritually fit as a solo project.  Many of the exercises that are done in a gym could be done alone at home, but by joining together with others who are seeking to be physically fit, it is much easier.  There is also the accountability factor.

In the same way, joining together with others makes it easier and more fun to get and stay spiritually fit.  The local church that you are a member of should provide opportunities for spiritual fitness, but even if it doesn’t, the fellowship of other believers contributes to spiritually fitness.  Worshipping the Lord with others is also an important part of keeping spiritually fit.

Please allow me to say a word to churches about providing a program for spiritual fitness.  Such a program must be intentional.  There needs to be a consistent and organized plan in place for believers at all levels of maturity, especially new believers.  Just as a gym will tailor a program of fitness for a new members according to their level of fitness, so also a church needs to have a plan in place for believers of all levels of maturity. 

Recently I read the following, which I will paraphrase:   “There is less than a 1% chance that a child involved in sports will become a professional athlete.   There is a 100% chance that your child will one day stand before Jesus.”   

Parents, let your child be involved in sports and recreation because “physical training is of some value,” but never to the point of being all consuming and to the neglect of being spiritually fit “because godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”