Christians love to quote verses. Unfortunately, sometimes those verses get quoted out of context. Christians tend to do this when they want the Word of God to help prove their point rather than to use the Word of God to further enlighten their wrong way of thinking. One verse that is often misquoted in this way, 1 Timothy 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. – 1 Timothy 4:8
The beginning of this verse is often claimed as a means to justify not exercising, or in a more general sense not being concerned at all with one’s health. So, is this really what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote this verse? Do we take the first five words of this verse and base a philosophy on it concerning our health?
Rightly Dividing The Word of God
2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Rightly dividing the Word of God, means to dissect, dive in, study the Word of God and find out the whole message God has for you in any and every aspect of your life. Sometimes God’s message for our life is very obvious in the scriptures.
For instance we know that God wants us to repent of our sins and follow Him as Christians. We understand that the biggie sins, like those listed in the Ten Commandments are off limits no matter what.
But what about what some people like to refer to as grey areas? The topic of our health and fitness, as it relates to our Christian lives often falls into this category. Many people think that the Word of God does not have much, if anything, to say on this subject.
However, this is not true. The Word of God does have something to say about our health as Christians. In order to understand this message we need to rightly divide the Word of God and study.
What Was Paul Saying?
First let’s look at what Paul was saying in 1 Timothy 4:8. It is important to understand the audience he was writing to. Timothy was a young man, whose father was of Greek heritage.
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: – Acts 16:1
Paul had taken Timothy under his wing and began teaching him after he became a Christian. It is important to understand that the Greeks honored physical fitness above many other characteristics. It was the Greeks, after all, who invented the Olympic games. Like most Greek fathers, Timothy’s father would have raised his son to focus intently on physical fitness and athletic ability.
But after becoming a Christian, Paul was trying to teach Timothy a different way of life. He was trying to help Timothy reset his priorities to reflect that of a Christian. This is why in 1 Timothy 4:8 Paul says, “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.”
Paul does not say that exercise profiteth none at all. Rather he says that it is little when compared to the profit of godliness in one’s life. The ideal combination would be godliness first and then one can have proper clarity to deal with their health.
A Proper Perspective on Health
In order to gain a proper perspective on health, we need to look at another verse which is often quoted in regards to our physical fitness.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? – 1 Corinthians 6:19
This verse is a perfect starting place for our discussion on health, because it gives us a good analogy, that of a temple, a building.
Specifically in the Bible, the temple was a glorious structure. It was well thought out by God. It was made of the finest materials, and it was constructed to be both beautiful and practical. All of these same things can be said about our bodies.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. – Psalms 139:13-15
Just as Solomon’s beautiful temple was constructed with great care, detail and beauty, so have our bodies been created with great care, detail and beauty as well. Our bodies are carefully crafted works of art, but unlike a sculpture or a painting, this work of art has life, consciousness, and influence over its environment. What a mighty God we serve!
Consider a work of art or a beautiful building. Much care and attention goes into the maintenance and care of these things. Take for instance the Sistine Chapel in Italy. This building embodies both an architectural masterpiece as well as an artistic masterpiece. The ceiling of the chapel was painted by Michelangelo in 1508. Since 1994 the Vatican has had an ongoing “preventative conservation” project in place in order to preserve the beauty of this work of art.
This “preventative conservation” entails not only careful cleaning and maintenance, but also includes a meticulous program of protecting the chapel from harmful light and substances.
The Word of God does not say that the Holy Spirit would indwell the Sistine Chapel. The Bible does not say that the Sistine Chapel is the temple of the Holy Ghost. The Bible says that you are the temple of the Holy Ghost. That makes you more valuable than even the Sistine Chapel. That means that the care and maintenance of your body is even more important than the care and maintenance of the Sistine Chapel.
Think about that for just a moment. Do you give yourself this kind of care and maintenance? Do you give your body the time and attention it deserves? Most of us would have to say we do not. The truth is, though, we are of very great value.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. – Genesis 1:26
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? – 1 Corinthians 6:19
We have been created in the image of God, and we have been indwelled with the Holy Ghost. God cares about our bodies and how we maintain them.
What Would God Have Us Do?
The world of marketing and advertisement has made fitness far more complicated than necessary. In the never-ending effort to make a dollar, advertisers have told you you will never truly be healthy without their product or their latest fad diet.
The truth is, fitness and health are just branches of the sciences which God has ordained. God created your body, so it only makes sense that God would be the one to teach you how best to maintain it. God teaches us these things through his Holy Spirit, which has been given to us to lead us in wisdom and truth.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. – John 14:26
Do you see the words, “all things,” in this verse? All things here literally means all things. The Holy Spirit will teach you everything you need to know about your life and how to live your best life. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will use another person to teach you what you need to know, but one way or another, the information you need will come to you. This goes for your health just as much as anything else.
When we take time each day to be still, quiet and alone with God, God will reveal to us what we should do concerning our health. All you must do is ask.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: – Matthew 7:7
If you ask God what He would have you do concerning your health, He will show you. What should I be doing? What should I stop doing? God will show you these things. Ask God about these things. Meditate about these things. Pray about these things. The answers will come.
God will reveal to you specific things He will want you to do concerning your health, but there are some universal laws of health and fitness that apply to every one. So, let’s look at a few of those.
What About Food?
Any conversation about health will eventually move towards the topic of diet. What should you eat? If you have ever studied this topic at all you will learn very quickly that everyone has a different opinion about what you should eat.
Vegetarians say don’t eat meat. Keto advocates say eat lots of fat. Low-fat advocates say eat little fat. Gluten-free advocates say stay away from grains and bread. Your doctor says don’t eat sugar. And on and on. Everyone has an opinion. So, what is the answer?
The answer is, diet will be different for everyone. But God does have a diet in mind for you specifically. The diet God wants you to eat will take into consideration you specific health, medical problems, metabolism, and even your preferences. You will know you are eating what God intends for you because your spirit will bear witness that what you are putting in your mouth glorifies God.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
To end the diet debate, simply start this little practice. Before putting a bite of food or a sip of drink in your mouth ask, “Lord, does this glorify you?”
If you will be honest, and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your heart, God will gently begin to steer you away from what you do not need and toward what you do need. No complicated programs. No mysterious food combinations. Just don’t put it in your mouth if God is not glorified by it.
It may sound overly simple, but what do you have to lose by trying this practice for 1 month? You certainly can’t be any worse off.
What About Exercise?
The next big question in any discussion on health is physical activity. This is the part where most people get really discouraged, because if food is confusing, then exercise is the black hole of the health topic. Not everyone has studied anatomy in depth or understands how all of the muscles, tendons, bones and tissue work.
Most people do not understand the ins and outs of the cardiovascular system and what it takes to keep this system healthy and how to use this system to keep your metabolism balanced. A lot of people do not even understand how metabolism works.
That’s okay. You don’t need to understand all of this in order to be healthy. You don’t need to understand all of this in order to start working toward a healthier activity level. Remind yourself of this often. You don’t need to be a fitness trainer with a degree in human anatomy in order to get healthy.
All you need to do is listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Spend some time alone, quiet and still with God each day. During this time ask the Holy Spirit to guide you concerning your activity level for the day.
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; – Colossians 3:23
This verse is the perfect verse to claim for your physical activity. If the Lord leads you to take a walk one day, then walk heartily as to the Lord. If the Lord leads you to take a swim, then swim heartily as to the Lord. If the Lord leads you to do a workout video one day, same thing, do that video wholeheartedly to the Lord.
As you offer you body to the Lord each day in this way, God will begin to inspire you to challenge yourself more and more. You don’t need to understand everything to get started. Simply say this little prayer, “Lord today, I will do my physical activities ‘heartily’ as to you. Which activity would you have me to do?” How simple is that?
Do you believe God cares about your fitness? Do you believe that God can lead you concerning which physical activities to take on each day? If you believe these simple truths, then God can help you to get more active and healthier through little steps each day.
Emotional Fitness
A discussion on health is never complete without addressing this most important element; emotional health. Many of the health problems we face are manifestations of emotional issues we have not dealt with.
A lot of food dependencies, and substance dependencies are emotional issues manifesting in the physical body and behavior. A lot of the extra weight we carry physically is just our body’s way of coping with what is really going on in our hearts. When we are not emotionally healthy it is very difficult for our bodies to be healthy.
The Bible has much to say about how our emotions can affect our body.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. – Proverbs 17:22
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. – Proverbs 4:20-22
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. – Proverbs 3:7-8
There are several emotional factors that can affect our health. We are going to look at a few of these. You may be facing one I have not mentioned, but the same principals apply.
Stress – Stress can be one of the most debilitating emotions. The American Heart Association has listed mental stress as one of the contributing factors to cardiac episodes including heart attacks.
Allowing stress to build up will physically take a toll on your heart. God designed our bodies with a fight or flight response. In ancient times this biological response would help us to flee a predator. Today, though, we still experience this response from things far less threatening.
An argument with our spouse, a difficult job, or an overly full schedule can all trigger the fight or flight response in us. The problem is many of us live in this state constantly. Our bodies were not designed to live in a constant state of stress all the time.
How can we get out of this state? God provides a ready made method of shedding stress. This is available to us all day, every day.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28
Through our quiet time alone with God each day we can pray about what is stressing us, and most importantly we can simply be. Christians greatly underestimate the importance of just being in the presence of God. No words. No prayers. Just quietly be.
Be still, and know that I am God: – Psalms 46:10
This is where God will meet with you and wash away the stress. Those burdens that you are worried about, can be laid at his feet and simply left there. If there is something God wants you to do about the situation, He’ll tell you. Otherwise, just leave it all there. This needs to be done daily. Sometimes more than once a day.
Insecurity – Insecurity is another issue which can affect our health. In some people insecurity can manifest as eating disorders. This can be both overeating as well as under eating. For those who deal with under eating they may be scared that eating will make them fat, and so they do not fuel their bodies as they should.
At the other end of the spectrum, are those whose insecurities push them to seek comfort in food. They feel as if others do not accept them or provide the comfort they need, so they seek that comfort in food. Both of these extremes will cause damage to your health.
Again, this goes back to Psalms 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
You are beautiful and beloved in the eyes of God. He is your creator. You are enough. He is your comforter. You are loved. When you begin to truly embrace these truths, you will no longer fear food, nor long after food for comfort. Seek your validation in God. Seek your comfort in God.
Depression – Another emotional state that can cause health issues is depression. In a state of depression, it is very hard to make good choices. The tricky thing about depression is that most people who are seriously dealing with depression cannot pull their own selves out of it. Reaching out for help is a Biblical concept. God has ordained others around you to help you.
Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Don’t be ashamed to reach out for help, either to your friends and family or through counseling. Sometimes the help God wants to extend to you will be through another human.
Conclusion
Our health is of great importance to God our Father. Being healthy doesn’t have to be mysterious or complicated. These simple steps can help you start a journey toward a healthier life in which you can better serve and glorify God.