1 Timothy 4:6-10

Weightlifters say, “No pain, no gain.” I do not fully understand the medical science behind it, but when it comes to strength training, they are right. In order for the muscles in our bodies to grow stronger, we have to stimulate them enough that they must adapt. The stimulation required causes physical pain but produces the desired results.

The Greek word Paul uses for training is the same word from which we get the English word gymnasium. The Greeks invented, or at the very least perfected, the art of bodybuilding and training. When the romans conquered them, Greek men who used to train for combat began to train for physical appearance and raw power. They would engage in feats of strength and wrestling as sport. Paul made the observation that even though their training had some value, it was temporary and the benefits faded with age. Training for godliness however produces value that affects every aspect of our life and only grows stronger with age. The value of training for godliness continues for eternity.

Christians have some of the same problems with spiritual training that non-Christians have with physical training. Most of us do not like pain, yet it is quite often in the midst of spiritual pain that our faith grows stronger. Many of us have difficulty with consistency. We will train every day for a short while after a revival or emotional spiritual experience, but then we began to miss days and skip our routines. The commitment and consistency that effective training demands requires motivation. A desire to be good enough motivates many to physically train. They want to make or stay on a team, or they want to earn as someone’s love. Christians already have God’s love and the weakest Christian is as much a part of God’s family as their most mature brother or sister. We train to be good ministers of Jesus Christ to a lost world. We train as if the world depends on it; it does.