1 Timothy 4 - Food and Workouts

This morning a few things spoke to me in chapter 4, some great reminders. Opening in this chapter, Paul reminds and informs Timothy that teachers and preachers will be coming and are around that are hypocritical liars and deceiving people. 

“Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods...” - ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is an interesting way of lying and deceiving, and something that I think we still face today. One Bible teacher I was listening to this morning put it simply, and he said that it’s, unfortunately, a regular occurrence of teaching that abstaining of something or denying ourselves of something could lead us to righteousness. However, this is a consistently false teaching that in Christ, pure and wholeness exists. 

“They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” - ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yes, it is true that there are times of denying self when it comes to fasting and specific acts of worship, but Paul is clear here that nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. Denying oneself and trying to become righteous in this way will only lead to emptiness and separation from our creator. This could look like legalism as well. Remember, Jesus is the real way to righteousness. Paul also dives into something that I think we can all benefit from, I know I can and have.

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” - ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Here Paul did not diminish the value of our physical bodies and training them and keeping them in shape. Paul also hit on this point in his letter to the Corinthians, so we know this is important, and there is value in it. 

“for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” - ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

However, as much value, there is in honoring our bodies, and most importantly, honoring God with our bodies, there is something that has much greater value. Training for godliness is much better and promises benefits in this life and the life to come. I loved that Paul pushed beyond this life, and also hit on the life to come. Training for godliness, equipping ourselves with God’s word, his teaching, and wisdom bring great benefit in this world and the next. That is something physical training can not do. For me, this is one reason that I moved my morning workouts to the afternoon or later in the day. I want to honor God with my first fruits, and my first...this is just one way for me to try and keep my self in check, and make sure I am pursuing training for godliness over physical training. I do not want to turn this into an idol or make this into an issue that becomes denying myself as Paul talks about in the opening, but it is just a way for me to stay in check. 

So, food and workouts today. Both are now an essential part of my life, trying to eat healthily and exercise to stay physically fit. These are important and will lead to a longer, healthier life. However, these and many other things we have to keep in check and realized that they are not ways to grow closer to God and are not ways to become more righteous. 

Training for godliness is much better, and promises benefits in this life and the life to come.