Why Be Fit? Part 1

In a world where desk jobs dominate the workplace, is there truly a need for physical prowess anymore? After all, the days of hand-hewn stone and wood, farming, and shepherding are all but gone, so is it necessary to retain a strong body? It would be disingenuous of me to say yes, but in this series, I’ll go into several reasons why keeping physically fit is critical to a man’s well-being and ability to do his jobs well.

Reason 1: Worship and Stewardship

It should come as no surprise that I begin with something theological, but the merging of the physical with the supernatural is one of those splendid mysteries that makes one smile once they know it. Scripture says that the Lord “knit” you together (Psalm 139:13). Poetry aside, it implies a special attention, one involving detail and hands-on involvement. I’ll take it further back to Genesis 2, where it says that God “formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”

Pause on that for a moment: everything else in creation was spoken into existence, but man was where God gets His holy hands dirty to form him like clay. Not merely a speaking…a hands-on molding of a being in His own image. This crowning creation was one that prompted God to dig into the soil He created to hand-make the being He knew would love Him, but not enough to stay, and who would require the ultimate act of sacrificial love to be bought back from the prison of death he willfully chose instead of his Maker…and the Almighty dug anyway. The Ancient of Days got dirt under His fingernails like He would later when He walked earth as a man…both times in the process of bringing life to something He loves so immensely.

Regarding the use of that body, let me ask you this: what craftsman doesn’t like to hear and see his work appreciated and enjoyed? If you’ve repaired something broken, assembled some shelves, made a tasty meal, or invented a pleasing cocktail, the one who created that good naturally derives great joy in another’s appreciation of it. The opposite is true as well: if that repair is looked down upon or purposefully broken, or that meal designated distasteful, its creator feels the sting of that disdain more sharply than one uninvolved in the making of that item.

Take then the exponentially more detailed involvement of God making man in His image: a note given to only one creature. God may not have a physical body, but the designation says many things.

• Christ becoming a man is possible “because although humanity and deity are not the same, they are compatible”, according to commentator David Guzik.

• Human life is intrinsically valuable, regardless of assumed quality, simply because it is.

• Upright posture, intelligible speech, numerous facial expressions, all make us different from any other animal.

• Man possesses senses unique to himself.

• Personality (knowledge, emotion, will)

• Morality (conscience and ability to make moral decisions)

• Spirituality (an ability to communicate with God)

Then consider the complexity of our physical frame. Trillions of cells, each having to work in perfect tandem for our survival, much less comfort. The brain regulates unconscious processes that keep us living (breathing, heart rate, digestion, cellular repair, heat and cold regulation). Spinal cords are more complex than underground telephone cables and connect that brain to every part of the body for management. Organs filter blood, digest nutrients, regulate sugar and electrolyte levels, and convert water intake into balanced fluid to support body functions. Muscles, tendons, and bones facilitate movement, so we don’t lie in one spot like a sack of potatoes (though some choose to be adept at this impression). We take the incredible intricacy of life for a “typical miracle”, simply because it’s so often repeated, but there is nothing typical about it. Man was made purposefully and different than all other creatures. God took His time and did it Himself.

What then is our response to this? The spiritual and physical implications of the human body are already staggering, so what to do with this information? This answer: the best we can. Ah, you thought I would prescribe a particular fitness goal or aesthetic to pursue? That’s up to you, dear reader, and that’s the subtle beauty of it: it calls you to your best. For some, a Greek statue look may be quite possible, and some of you may already be there. For others, beauty may come less from looks and more from performance. I’ve seen men on both sides: some who have veins on their veins and the only fat on them is the essential fat in their brains, and others who more resemble a wine barrel than a marble man. However, you give the veiny guy a paper cut and he’ll need medical attention, and you give the barrel man a truck to lift and he’ll do it. It’s all about making the best of the hand you’re dealt and doing something good with it.

Want to run a marathon? Good. Want to win a physique competition? Good. Want to be a fighter or a strongman? Good. “Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). The cool thing about this is you can draw a parallel with physical training and the way Jesus doubled down on the Law. In the same way Christ upped the ante from “as long as you check the box” to “what’s in your heart?”, you can decide if you’re doing a workout to check a box or if you’re training your body because you appreciate it and give thanks to God for its capabilities. The first gives you bragging rights on Instagram, but the second gives your Heavenly Father a smile, knowing you’re making use of your handmade gift, especially when that use requires discipline and sacrifice. Bringing your flesh under control of your spirit begins to bridge the physical and supernatural in a meaningful way. More on that later. 

 Next time you get your sweat on, remember to be grateful that you even can; there are many whose bodies have failed them who would love to be doing any sort of exercise, perhaps used to be the stud you want to be. The measure of your effort is something only you can honestly assess, but be honest with yourself: are you slogging through on the bare minimum or are you delighting in your work, relishing the pain and the progress you are forcing yourself to grasp? I’ve been on both sides; having a goal and a timeline does exponentially more to keep you on track than a nebulous “just be fit” goal. Even if it isn’t a dedicated event for which you train, have some metrics; key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success in your particular lane. Covering a mile in a given time, doing a certain number of pullups, moving a particular weight for a given movement, or a mix of them for overall fitness! Whatever your style, train for the glory of the God who put you together atom by atom, and know that He sees you stewarding your body with gratitude and sacrifice.