Now come on, be honest. Have you ever thought that someone who reads their Bible every day was just a bit strange? Did you ever start to avoid talking to someone just because you knew that they carried a Bible around? Maybe you even called them a religious fanatic?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, let me ask you a few more. Did you ever think that someone who plays hockey several hours a day was strange? or football? or basketball? Did you ever avoid talking to them?
Isn’t it interesting that when a person gives himself to a sport, he is said to be dedicated or committed. However, if someone dedicates themselves to God people think he ought to be committed? There’s something wrong with our value system. Let’s take a look at what the Word of God has to say on this topic.
I Timothy 4:8
“For bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
The benefits of bodily exercise, though profitable, are for a short while only – for this life. Godliness – the developing of one’s relationship with God – on the other hand, is beneficial not only for today but also for the life to come. So where do you think it would be better to put most of your effort?
Every time I go to watch a hockey game – (which is often because of my kids!) – it amazes me how much people shout and cheer for the sport (me included …). Now I do enjoy sports and I am well aware of their value – but please, let’s not mistake a pastime for life’s highest game. If a person can get so excited about sports or other pursuits, why should it be strange to get just as excited about God’s Word? Why is one called a loyal fan and the other a weird fanatic? Why is one praised and the other avoided?
When I was growing up in Nova Scotia, back in the seventies, there used be this old ad on TV. It showed a number of people playing various sports, lifting weights and doing all sorts of exercises. They were running and jumping and sweating. And then a Bible was dropped on a table and the narrator asked, “Given that a good workout lately?” Still a good question.