Total Fitness
by Malcolm Wood
Former church buildings being used as warehouses, shops, and industrial units are sadly a common sight in towns and villages across the UK nowadays. I passed one recently which was being used as a gym/fitness centre. On the board over the entrance to this building were the words 'Give me strength'. I found this not only sad, but rather ironic. In the past it would, no doubt, have been a place where people could regain their spiritual strength, but now it was only a place for improving physical prowess.
Although we need to take care of our bodies, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, it shouldn’t be to the detriment of our spiritual well being. `Train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come` (1 Timothy 4:7-8, NLT)
It’s so important that we look for spiritual help and strength in the right places. Going to church, reading books, listening to CDs, watching Christian TV, and attending conferences can be beneficial and it’s important for us to share in fellowship with other believers. However, if these things make us “feel good” but do little to deepen our relationship with God, help us grow spiritually and move on in our walk with Christ, I would suggest that we have something out of balance. Feelings are a part of our make-up and do give us a good indication as to how we are doing. The great danger is that we can be so intent on nurturing our souls (of which our feelings are a part), to make us feel better, that we neglect the spiritual aspect of our being.
We are tripartite beings, consisting of three parts, body, soul and spirit. It’s important that we look after all three parts and keep them in balance. Just as a three-legged stool with one leg missing, damaged, or shorter than the others, is out of balance, or at dis-ease, so it can be with us if the three parts are not cared for, nurtured and allowed to develop in the way God intended.
God made us and is the one who knows everything about us (Psalm 139:2-4). Isn’t He the one to turn to for help to address any imbalances in our lives? The psalmist declares 'God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble' (Psalm 46:1). As a loving, caring Father, God wants the best for us. He’s given us his Word to guide us, His son Jesus as an example to follow, and His Spirit to strengthen and help us, so we can become the person He intended us to be, completely whole and fit in body, soul and spirit.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Please show me if there is anything out of balance in my life and please give me the courage to face whatever that issue is, and, with Your help, take the necessary steps to put the matter right. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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