“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:25
Body building is a unique sport compared to the many sports adored around the world. For starters, there is no ball. There is no equipment on the stage (many times, the less the better). Winners typically win through the perspective of a judge.
Despite its contrast to well-loved sports like basketball and soccer, the ultimate authority on words, the Oxford English Dictionary, indicates that bodybuilding falls well within the criteria of “Success, pleasure, or recreation derived from or afforded by an activity…”
I mention this as the sport has many similarities to the sport of life we know as the Christian walk and perhaps we can learn something from the building of the body.
As I was reflecting upon both (body building and Body building), some immediate similarities I found is that:
- Life centers around a special design (Job 10:9-12; Ephesians 2:10 )
- Nutrition perhaps is just as important as what is done (2 Timothy 2:15-16)
- Body building is a delicate balance of developing the whole body while never losing sight of our weakest places (Romans 12:1-2; Romans 14).
- At the end of the day, both have contests. The Body must be on display (Ephesians 1:17-21).
The physical body builder emulates the dedicated spiritual Body builder in their rigor and dedication to sculpt some beautiful.
Everything is done on purpose. Much like a lifter tracks workouts and micronutrients religiously, we track and store the Word of God in our hearts that we might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11)
We study to show ourselves approved. We labor so that Christ’s Body will grow. As our muscles grow, we lift more and reach out more to those around us (1 Timothy 4:13-15).
While the Body grows and we take in all the good things that God has for us, we also must reject those things which harm us and home the muscles that are weakest.
Because after all, the body builder aims to be on stage to pose in all of their oiled up glory. We as the Body aim to show the goodness of Christ in the Body, which He is the Head (Colossians 1:18-20).
These comparisons may seem a bit forced, but check the Scripture references attached and they may not be too far off the mark.
After all, we strive for a crown. Not a temporal one found on worldly stages, but rather an eternal one that is bestowed with a “well done” exclamation by the ultimate Judge (1 Timothy 4:8).
With such good news and great a prospect, why wouldn’t the man/woman of God want to be a Body Builder!