"Working Out and Getting Buffed"

I remember coming through high school and the different sports I was involved in all had one thing in common. They all had a time during practices where you had to go into the weight room and workout. There were competitions that the guys would have with one another over who could bench the most weight or who could curl the most. I never got into those types of competitions, because to be honest I never really cared for lifting weights or doing the whole "getting buff" thing.

Now, mind you I'm no string bean either; I just had my own ideas of working out and though I was considered slim I was very strong for my size and as they say "cut". I chose to do a lot of running and jumping as opposed to lifting. I went to school with guys that could bench press a Volkswagen but couldn't put together a cohesive sentence to save their life.

Paul said, "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next." 1Ti 4:8 Paul's letting us know that there is nothing wrong with getting in shape by working out and getting buffed as some would call it. He is just bringing our attention to the fact that in the overall scheme of things it really doesn't mean much.

So, by all means get yourself in shape and if you're a weight lifter, keep on lifting those weights; but we must keep in the forefront of our minds that the exercising of our spiritual lives as Paul puts it, is not only going to benefit us now, but most importantly in the world to come.

What's getting stronger? Your flesh or your spirit?