A SPIRITUAL WORKOUT

Dr. Richard J. Henderson February 12, 2006

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Psalm 30 (responsive)
I Corinthians 9:24-27

Introduction

It's Super Bowl 40. After all the hype for weeks, the game is underway. Toward the end of the game, Seattle receives a kickoff and the receiver begins to run the ball back. Amazingly, he breaks through the Pittsburgh line and has a clear field ahead of him. There's no one in front of him and no one close behind him. He runs for the goal. It is going to be a 90-yard run for a touchdown.

But as he gets to the 25-yard line, he runs out of energy. He slows down. He is panting desperately. He's having trouble putting one foot in front of the other. He's winded and exhausted. Finally, he is hit from behind by two Steelers and falls to the ground, ten yards short of the goal line.

90 yards is a long way to run. If only he had been in better shape!

That didn't happen, of course, and it wouldn't happen in professional football.

But it does make you wonder how those players keep going - running, hitting, throwing - without falling over exhausted. No player ever goes over to the sidelines and says, "Coach, could you take me out, I'm awfully tired!" They don't do that because they are in great physical condition.

I

The image that Paul uses in our scripture today is of athletes training. He says, "Get fit, so you can win the prize." He talks about punishing the body so that it is strong and able. The training athletes go through looks like punishment. It is hard work and strain so that the body will be able to endure.

Paul writes this in Corinth. Surely while he was there he was impressed with the athletes training there. The Corinthian Games were held every two years and were second in importance to the Olympics. There are parallels in that many people see the Super Bowl as second in importance to the Olympics.

Part of the environment of Corinth was the games and the athletes. We have special appreciation of that environment, being the location of this year's Super Bowl.

II

The metaphor Paul uses compares the physical preparation of an athlete with the spiritual preparation of Christians. As athletes get ready so they can excel in the games, so spiritual training gets us ready to serve God.

An athlete trains to be strong in facing the challenges of the game and to endure them; we develop our spiritual life to be strong when we face difficult times and to endure challenges to our faith.

We remember Coretta Scott King - a woman of strong faith all her life. We remember how her faith supported her through jailings, attempts to burn down her house, and threats on her life, her husband's life, and her children's lives.

She endured all that and still didn't hate the people doing it. Her faith had grown so strong throughout her life that she could deal with all that and not resort to violence and hatred.

III

Imagine if we spent as much time developing our spiritual life as we do our physical life. What if we were as concerned that our spirit was strong and healthy as we are that our bodies are strong and healthy? The health clubs are packed with people even at 6:00 AM, dedicating themselves to getting in shape. People go three or four times per week - some people every day - so they can be physically healthy and look good.

At some level, I guess, we all know that our spiritual health is more important than our physical health, so why don't we invest as much in strengthening our spirits? People work out for hours, several times a week; imagine spending that much time reading your Bible, talking with God, serving on mission teams, caring for the poor, or visiting abandoned people in a nursing home.

As we are built up physically by pushing ourselves in training, so we are built up spiritually by pushing ourselves in spiritual training. No athlete achieves strength without going beyond his comfort zone. The same is true for spiritual development.

IV

One of the unique things about the Corinth Games is that they were all individual sports. There were no team sports, but one person always competed against other individuals. That's a shame, because the metaphor is so much better when related to team training.

Each person on a team has to be in good shape, but the team has to prepare together and they have to work together and support each other in order to be effective. It's not just that I win (and who cares about the rest of you), but that the team works together for everyone to succeed.

We have to help each other, look out for one another, and encourage each other. We want the whole team to win.

Conclusion

I had a conversation with one of our members a couple of years ago. I asked, "What can we do to help you in your faith? What can our church offer you?" He answered, "Several years ago I called out for God's help in a difficult time. God answered my prayer and gave me more than I could hope for. God's response was overflowing. Now I want to give back. I want to help people. I keep up my prayer life and worship on Sundays, and I want to help. I have been given so much that I want to give to others."

That is a person who is growing spiritually. That is an approach that makes for a strong team.

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2006