Fit as a fiddle

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both present life and the life to come,”

1 Timothy 4:8

     Fit as a fiddle means to be in great physical shape, full of energy, and healthy. Originally the phrase was fine as a fiddle which meant for something to be suitable for a particular purpose.

     This time of year we’re inundated with commercials for gym memberships, diet programs, and exercise equipment with the promises that within a short time we can get ourselves into shape. We can become so hyper-focused on the number on the scale, we forget we’re running a marathon and not a sprint.  

     As believers, we’re called to take care of our bodies. I Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you , whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with our body.” If you take this Scripture literally, we’re leasing our bodies from God who is the landlord because it is no longer ours. So if I don’t own it, I’m not allowed to do whatever I want and I need to take care of it.

     Our desire to be spiritually fit should be even greater than trying to hit our target weight. We can find time to go to the gym for an hour but we find it difficult to find the time to read a five-minute devotion. Paul speaks about our spiritual health in Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.”

     God’s desire for us is to take care of ourselves, be good stewards of our bodies, and be as fit as a fiddlespiritually.