Profitable Unto All Things
“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.”1 Timothy 4:8 (KJV)
January is the month of gym memberships. That is a good thing. Paul uses athletes as examples more than once, and he never treats the body as unimportant: “your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you… ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
But Paul also puts training in its place: “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.” Exercise helps for a while. Godliness helps forever.
Good things can cost us the best things. You can build a strong body and neglect a strong soul. You can also go the other way, and use “spiritual” as an excuse not to care for the body God gave you.
Train your body this year, if you can. Just make sure the training of your heart gets the bigger share.
Read it yourself
Read 1 Timothy 4:7–8. What does Paul tell Timothy to exercise himself unto?
What would it look like to give the same effort to godliness that you give to your physical goals?
Lord, my body is yours. Help me care for it well, and care for my soul even more. Amen.