We are starting a Wellness Program here on staff at NewPointe. It was kind of funny at the initial meeting. We all had to get our blood taken, be weighed, check our blood pressure and body fat, and fill out a questionnaire about our habits and lifestyles. You could sense that most of us were nervous and anxious. One of the reasons is because we all have the intuition that lets us know we are probably not going to get a report back saying we absolutely have nothing to work on. So, there was small chatter and nervous laugher that you could hear as we moved through each station.
It reminded me of what Paul said to Timothy in I Timothy 4:8, “For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.”
First, we do need to take care of our body. It is the temple of God. It is his instrument or tool. And physical training does have value. But, ultimately, my body is going to be destroyed. Paul goes on to say, "That which has the most value is spiritual training, because it holds promise for the present life and the life to come."
We get nervous when we evaluate the health of our physical body - which we all need to do because it does have value. When was the last time you had a physical examination? I want to encourage you, because life is precious. And, if you don’t want to do for yourself, then do it for your family. Push past the nervousness and fear. You’ll be glad you did. You will be able to address things that you were not aware of, and many times, catch things before they become a problem.
As I was standing in line, I thought to myself how nervous it would make most of us to do a spiritual evaluation. And probably for the same reasons a physical one does. Yet this examination is of even more importance, because it not only benefits us in this life but the next life too.
In the medical world, they check about 3 things to know right away if you have concerns physically. Here’s a way you can do that spiritually. It will give you a quick, accurate evaluation of your spiritual condition:
- Time – Are you giving God time? Here’s how - by making NewPointe’s Sunday morning service a priority, and by taking a minimum of 15 minutes to talk and listen to Him thru Bible reading and prayer.
- Talent – Are you using your gifts and talents to serve God? Or are you just using your abilities to fulfill your own dreams and desires? Here’s how - by serving in a significant way through NewPointe so that God’s purposes may be fulfilled.
- Treasure – Are you generous towards God and His work? Do you tithe? Here’s how - give sacrificially by saying no to something you want so that you can give more to God’s work.
I want to be in good shape physically because I have a beautiful wife and four great kids. They need me to be around, and I want to be around.
I want to be in good shape spiritually because I have a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed me, and I have family and friends who desperately need to know Him.
