1 Tim. 4 [The Message]

My daughters keep fit both spiritually and physically. They are faithful to spend their time in God[‘s Word and in the gym. To me, that’s the ideal. (My boys don’t do bad either)

Paul makes it clear that exercising the body DOES profit, but that putting effort into spiritual fitness is the most important.

Here’s a fresh example of the value of being fit: I had to buy 4 new batteries for the used RV I just purchased. They are bulky and clumsy to handle and weigh 65 lbs. each. I could just see myself putting my back out and being down in bed for days if I tried to manhandle them. Hark! My Ashley handles that weight weekly in her fitness routine. She grabbed them lickity-split and had the job done in a heartbeat. Her devotion to fitness came in SO HANDY. More importantly, she had spent the entire weekend sharing her faith with an old HS friend who was hurting. Both areas of fitness were used and were a blessing because she STAYS FIT.