The Men of Iron Minute

by Justin Watkins | Chief Generosity Mentor

Do I Need to Be a Gym Rat to Be Faithful?

It’s important to define upfront what we are talking about when we use the word fitness, because you might be thinking it’s focused primarily on working out.

But when we talk about fitness at Men of Iron, we aren’t just talking about what splits you’re doing in the gym. As we’ve already established in 1 Corinthians 6, everything in our physical experience is equally related to spiritual significance. When it comes to taking care of the temple of the Holy Spirit that He has entrusted us, it means fitness is a holistic endeavor.

Taking care of your physical body requires a long list of important elements that relate to your physical well-being. This includes your sleep habits, managing stress and emotions, the quality and quantity of your diet. And yes, that list also includes being active to the ability God has given you.

This does not mean you have to be a gym rat or body builder to fulfill God’s purpose in your life.

But your body is the vehicle in which you use to serve the purpose God has for you.

You have people around you who need your gifts and presence to serve them and point them back to Him.

If your car breaks down, you need to get it tuned up. You need to change the oil, put gas in, make sure the engine is running. A car that has broken down on the side of the road isn’t going anywhere. The same is true for us – it’s much harder to serve others, be helpful, or make an impact if we’re constantly broken down, tired, and sick.

Please know this does not ignore serious health concerns that might be beyond your control, but as much as you can, you are responsible for your temple’s health.

This also is not an exercise of shame or judgment, because as Paul notes in verse 20,

You are not your own, you were bought for a price.

This is an invitation to something greater – God believes you are worth it. God gave everything He had to buy you back from brokenness. He is willing to do anything to have you as His son. You are worth more to Him than you can even imagine. He believes in you, and you should too.

So no, you don’t have to be a gym rat to be faithful to Jesus – you just need to know you’re worth the work to be healthier tomorrow than you are today. Not because of shame, but because you matter to God, and you matter to the people around you.

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