Skip to main content

Okay, Martha!

TTTT: I’m too busy serving others to exercise.

Truth: If you’re modeling after Christ, you’re going to get your steps in.

 

I used to say, “I’m too busy serving other people to be consistent with an exercise routine.”  I believed that I was modeling after Christ, making sacrifices for others. 

I told myself that caring for the church body was more important than caring for my own body.  But I was ignoring this truth- I AM a PART of the church body!  If I truly believe that caring for the church body is important, then it’s impossible to justify neglecting the care of my own body.

Scripture is clear that it’s not okay to show favoritism in how we treat people within the church (James 2:1,9), but don’t overlook the fact that that includes YOU!  You are “people within the church.”  If you’re prioritizing caring for the church body, then prioritize caring for yourself. 

Moreover, the New Testament tells us that the body is the temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).  If you’re neglecting caring for your own physical body, you’re neglecting caring for the temple.

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) <<<Don’t leave yourself out!  It doesn’t say love your neighbor MORE than yourself. 

And then there’s the inspiration for the title of this post- the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42).  Martha is a classic example of choosing serving others over what is “necessary.”  Jesus commends Mary’s choice, not Martha’s.

So again, these can’t co-exist: you can’t say that you’re too busy serving others to exercise.

Yes, being willing to put others first is part of the gig, but taking time to exercise is one way that you can make sure you’re staying healthy.  If you’re too busy for exercise and the other forms of self-care, you’re not living a sustainable lifestyle.  You will burn out, eventually.  You will be the one that lets others down because you have overextended yourself.

It’s the classic quality versus quantity dilemma... 

You can serve 4 people but be inconsistent and unreliable, OR you can serve 2 people really, really well and take care of yourself in such a way that you can continue to serve those 2 people as long as needed. 

Which strategy is going to have more of an impact on the lives of others?

Extending the second scenario, if those 2 people imitate you and serve 2 more people well, then you’ve multiplied your effectiveness.  Consider the scenario of serving 4, if you’re letting them down, are they even going to want to imitate you? 

Jesus ministered to others AND exercised. 

It’s estimated that he walked over 3000 miles during his 3-year ministry.  That’s an average of about 3 miles a day.  He got His steps in!  If you’re modeling after Christ, lace up some tennis shoes and start walking!  Minister to the people you encounter in your neighborhood and/or the new community you find at your gym.  THEN- you’ll be ministering to others AND exercising, that’s what Jesus did. 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

70 Gains & Victories

Here is the Full List of 70 Gains and Victories referenced in this blog post .        1.       One time, I saw my reflection in the window of a retail store and didn’t recognize myself. 2.        Having to retire my favorite pair of pants (that used to look painted on), because they would no longer stay up.   3.        I rode the zipline at my parents’ house.   I had tried to do it in the past but couldn’t support my own weight.   This was especially rewarding because it was on my list of reasons to get healthy. 4.        I took the kids to Urban Air and played dodgeball.   Not just as the parent who wanted to be out there to have fun with the kids, but I was able to COMPETE.   I did have fun, but as an athlete I reveled in having the ability to get out there and go head-to-head with the dads and high school boys. 5.  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tell the Truth Tuesday- (TTTT)

  If you’ve known me for less than 10 years, you might not know- I used to be fat.   Not subjectively “fat”.   Not fat, relative to how I look now.   I was medically obese.   If you looked at the ideal weight range for my height and multiplied that number times 2, that would give you the highest number that I saw on the scale. I was over 200 pounds and I quit using the scale after that.   Maybe you knew me then, maybe you didn’t.   The truth is, I didn’t know myself. I had no clue that I was fat.   I would have admitted that I had weight to lose, but I was oblivious to the reality that I was extremely unhealthy.   I was on the path to countless medical problems and chronic diseases and I didn’t know it. I had brainwashed myself. I believed lies. I used the people around me to normalize my behaviors and dismiss my convictions about my lifestyle. I started correcting my relationship with food about 10 years ago and am still growi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Eat, Pete, & Repeat

 So, the word of the year thing is very trendy and I think I have only jumped on this band wagon once or twice in the past.  I’m not very good at it. Made obvious by the fact that I don’t remember any past words of the year with confidence and that I’m not even solidifying my word of the year until February…nuance.   Anyways, I have received and committed to my word of the year- “DISCIPLINE”.   Some of you that know me well might be a little confused by this (as was I).  I am already a pretty disciplined person. Significantly more disciplined than most, and very comfortable with that.  I have not drank a drop of alcohol in 4 years and haven’t consumed any sweets for about 3 and a half years.  I eat well.  I work out multiple times a week. We have 1 TV in the house, and I barely watch it.  I rarely lose track of time swiping on social media.  Discipline permeates pretty much every area of my life. So when God hit me with this discip...
Post a Comment
Read more