How is Your Spiritual Health?
Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash
…Rather, train yourself in godliness. For the training of the body has limited benefits, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (CSB)
The world seems only interested in appearances. You need to be fit, healthy, and attractive. In the U.S., we spend $897 per year on how we look. Women spend an average of $1,064 and men spend around $728 according to Self Financial. Common investments include hair care products, hair cuts, skin care, gym memberships, and make up. One in ten Americans are in debt an average of $1,342 to maintain their looks.
Folks, we’re fighting a battle we can’t win. Ultimately time, money, and nature will win out—if we are blessed to live long enough. Smooth skin and strong muscles are easy enough when we’re young. But as time and life takes their toll on our bodies, it gets harder and harder to maintain. I’m not trying to depress you, but at some point, all the fighting for our youthful appearances ends up making us look a little foolish.
The world values youth. It always has. But the wise person at some point in their life learns to find value in something deeper than her/his looks. Hopefully we are taught to value wisdom and faith when we are young. But even if you weren’t, it’s never too late to ask God to help you see yourself through His eyes. He sees your worth in how you treat others. He wants to see you serve Him even through your flaws, in spite of your flaws.
Trying to get the world’s acceptance because of your appearance is fleeting and shallow. I know. I tried. But basking in God’s acceptance because of His grace and mercy is so much more satisfying and freeing.
We are taught as Christians to be different from the world. There’s beauty in being different. Look how desired a four leaf clover is. There’s beauty in wrinkles. Think about how many smiles and laughter it took to make those laugh lines. Think about how much life struggles and hardships it took to gain wisdom to pass on.
In Romans 5:3 we’re told, “…we rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces character, and proven character produces hope.”
We are preparing for our heavenly health when we focus on God’s will in our lives. So, eat healthy, exercise, and fill your mind with the things of God. And find yourself in the slower paced race to do God’s will and share your faith. There’s nothing wrong with being young and beautiful, just train yourself at every age to see the value of godliness in yourself and others.
Question for Reflection:
Which race are you running? The race trying to outrun age, or the race to do God’s will and share Christ?
