Exercise to be Holy

Exercise to be Holy (I Timothy 4:7)
 
I Timothy 4:7, But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
 
It is amazing what we will do to avoid exercise. Physical assertion is not on top of the “to do list” for many. I heard about this company that posted this on their bulletin board: “This firm requires no physical fitness program. Everyone gets enough exercise jumping to conclusions, flying off the handle, running down the boss, knifing friends in the back, dodging responsibility, and pushing their luck.” Thanks the management. In I Timothy 4:7 Paul specifically tells Timothy that their must be exercise daily if we are going to walk with Jesus and influence this world for Him.
 
Paul gives Timothy some clear instruction about exercise. This is not a suggestion or a recommendation, but a commandment to everyone who follows after Jesus Christ. Exercise: (gumnazo) means “to train, to discipline. The word speaks of the rigorous, strenuous, and self-sacrificing training an athlete undergoes. The present tense of the verb tells us that this was to be Timothy’s constant pursuit. This is what Dr. Ted Traylor calls the formation of Godliness. He says, “In the formation of Godliness we must work out, we must look up, and we must bear down.” There’s nothing wrong with bodily exercise, but our ultimate goal daily is not only to maintain, but build upon and build up our spiritual man. Some are diligent in bodily exercise, but give no work at spiritual exercise.
 
I heard about this executive who was just buttoning up his coat after a physical examination. He said, “Doctor, if there is anything wrong with me, don’t try to hoodwink me by giving me a long scientific name. Just tell me in plain English what’s wrong with me.” The doctor said, “Well, to be perfectly frank, you are just plain lazy and need more exercise.” The executive said, “Thanks, doctor. Now please give me the scientific name, so I can tell the people at the office.” Some people are lazy physically, but more than that they are lazy spiritually.
 
Some Christians never exercise and work out by spending time in prayer, Bible study, or service for the King. We are commanded to exercise, but not just any exercise. We are commanded to exercise toward godliness. Godliness: (Eusebeia) this is a compound word in the Greek language. The word “eu” which means “well” and the word “sebomai” which means “to be devout, piety, godliness, holiness.”
 
I Corinthians 9:24-27, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
 
Trusting in Jesus will bring you blessing from heaven and berating from hell. Paul gives Timothy some direct instruction about exercise toward godliness. We should all daily be growing in our faith, in the likeness of the Son of God, in our love for the word of God, in our obedience to God, in our service for God, in our witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Warren Wiersbe said, “When I see high school football squads and baseball teams going through their calisthenics under the hot summer sun, I am reminded that there are spiritual exercises that I ought to be doing. Prayer, meditation, self-examination, fellowship, service, sacrifice, submission to the will of others, witness—all of these can assist me, through the Spirit, to become a more godly person.”
 
When the apostle Paul wrote Timothy, he instructed his young protégé to “exercise thyself rather unto godliness” (I Timothy 4:7). Paul was familiar with the Olympics of his day, and referred to the games quite often in his writings. But instead of training the body, Paul taught Timothy to train the spirit. He was to exercise his life in a direction of godliness.
 
It is a fact that bodily exercise is good for the body. Bodily exercise or physical training is good. Exercise: We get our English word for gymnasium from this Greek word. At the gym we go to work out and get in shape. Paul tells us that bodily exercise profits a little. Profits: ophelimos, o-fel'-ee-mos; helpful or serviceable, i.e. advantageous:-profit (-able) useful. Physical exercise profits a little, for a little while, but godliness is profitable for all things and affects us for all eternity. It is good to work out and be in physical shape, but if we waste our life trying to build the physical man to the neglect of our spiritual life we have done a great dis-service to ourselves. Promise: epaggelia, ep-ang-el-ee'-ah; an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good), message, promise.
 
It’s been said that training to be holy is very different from trying to be holy. Trying to be holy doesn’t work, training does. To exercise godliness you must be deliberate. One does not “accidentally” work-out.  No one mistakenly lifts weights or jogs three miles. The same principle holds true when it comes to our spirituality.
 
To be godly we must train ourselves. We must have an intentional program, a set of core values and a strong will to live within the parameters of the Word of God. We must stick to a daily regime of prayer, meditation, and spiritual disciplines. Horatius Bonar stated, “Holiness is not measured by one great heroic act of mighty martyrdom…it is the small things that a holy life is made of.” We grow strong spiritually the same way we grow strong physically, by exercising a little every day.
 
Paul tells Timothy that godliness is profitable in this life and in the life to come. It has profit in all things at all times. We can be assured that when we live for Jesus that we are not wasting our time or our talents. I Corinthians 15:58,  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
 
We have a promise for this life and for the life to come. H.A. Ironside said, “Do not neglect your soul as you care for your body. Do not be so much concerned about bodily exercise that you fail to take plenty of time over the word of God and in prayer that you may be strong, healthy Christians, whose lives will bring the approval of the blessed Lord at His judgment seat.” We are exhorted to live here and now for the then and there. We must live in light of eternity!
 
Spending daily time in the Word and committing Scripture to memory is as key to gaining spiritual muscles as daily weight-lifting is to gaining physical muscle. The past few weeks, we’ve also studied the importance of the spiritual disciple of prayer. Through spiritual exercises, God transforms us and renews our minds. Day by day, He works through those practices to make us more like Him.


If we want to get stronger spiritually, we know what we have to do. We have to train for godliness. Building spiritual muscle helps us endure whatever this life throws at us and equips us to share this hope with others! Even better, spiritual exercise is an investment with eternal reward.  
 
Points to Ponder:
We are to be growing!
Strong faith is built, one faithful step at a time.
Spiritually exercise will develop you into a stronger, more resilient believer?
 
Questions to Consider:
Are you growing?
Are you closer to Jesus today than you were last year, last month, last week, or last night?
What is the single most difficult issue you are facing in life right now?
How are you responding to the challenges in your life?
 
PRAYER: Lord, I want to strengthen my faith in You. Help me be disciplined and self-controlled so that I can be dedicated to training for godliness. I want to keep growing and learning. Help me to identify areas of my life that I can swap out other activities for time spent training for godliness. Help me be disciplined and give me wisdom to make healthier spiritual choices. Day by day, I want to be more like You. You are the goal and prize. In Jesus Name, Amen.
 
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