Training for Godliness: Why Spiritual Exercise Matters More Than Physical Fitness

Jack Selcher
Feb 13, 2025
3 min read

Updated: 8 hours ago

a man is standing behind Jesus trying to measure up to the full moral and spiritual perfection of Jesus

Summary

While physical exercise benefits the body, training for godliness offers far greater rewards. Scripture teaches that godliness impacts both this life and eternity by shaping believers into Christlikeness. Like physical training, spiritual growth requires discipline, effort, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Through spiritual practices such as reading Scripture, prayer, generosity, and fellowship, God forms character that reflects Jesus and produces lasting, eternal value.

How Exercise Benefits Us

Physical exercise benefits us greatly. It helps us:

· Control our weight.

· Increase our strength.

· Prevent or manage stroke, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, many cancers, falls, and arthritis.

· Improve our mood.

· Boost our energy.

· Sleep better.

· Improve our sex life.1

The Value of Physical Training

As a former thrower and a throws coach, I have experienced the benefits of persistent practice and weight training to improve performance. Because of it, my best javelin throw improved from 175 feet in high school to 210 feet in college.

From their freshman to senior years, one of the boys I coached improved his discus throw from 143 feet to 172 feet, another boy improved his javelin throw from 128 feet to 200 feet, a girl improved her javelin throw from 87 feet to almost 119 feet, and another girl improved her discus throw from 110 feet to 145 feet.

Why Godliness Matters More

The Apostle Paul agrees that physical training is good. “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. ’Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.’” (1 Timothy 4:7–8 NLT).

Medical professionals tell us that exercise benefits our health more than almost anything else we can do. Paul writes that godliness is much better than physical training because the latter benefits only our earthly lives.

Godliness Defined by Jesus

When you train yourself in godliness, it benefits this life and the life to come. Godliness is becoming more like Jesus, the God-man who demonstrated abundant, fulfilling earthly life and promised we can too (John 10:10). The future benefits spring from the rewards for the good deeds godliness leaves in its wake (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

A Portrait of Christlike Character

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT). The fruit of the Spirit describes Jesus being Himself.

Other character traits of Jesus include alertness, attentiveness, availability, boldness, cautiousness, compassion, contentment, creativity, decisiveness, deference, dependability, determination, diligence, discernment, discretion, endurance, enthusiasm, faith, flexibility, forgiveness, generosity, gentleness, gratefulness, hospitality, humility, initiative, joyfulness, justice, love, loyalty, meekness, obedience, orderliness, patience, persuasiveness, punctuality, resourcefulness, responsibility, reverence, security, self-control, sensitivity, sincerity, thriftiness, thoroughness, tolerance, truthfulness, wisdom, and virtue.2

The Cost of Spiritual Training

The virtues of physical training come at a cost. We must consistently discipline ourselves and spend energy to reap its benefits. We don’t do it by propping up our feet, eating potato chips, and gulping soft drinks. We can’t pamper ourselves on the path of least resistance.

Training ourselves in godliness is difficult because our sinful nature fights against it at every step. Without depending on the power of the Holy Spirit, we won’t progress very far. God chose us to become like His Son (Romans 8:29). His word, Spirit, church, and circumstances are His shaping tools.