Exercise With a Purpose Bigger Than You

Most of us started exercising for pretty normal reasons. We wanted to lose weight, feel better in our clothes, have more energy, or maybe just not get winded walking up the stairs. None of those are bad goals. God cares about our health, and stewarding the body He gave us matters.

But at some point, I had to ask myself a hard question:

Why am I really doing this?

If exercise is only about how I look, how strong I feel, or how many compliments I get, then it’s a fragile foundation. The moment progress slows—or life gets stressful—the whole thing falls apart.

I’ve come to believe there are three motives that give exercise lasting, eternal value.

1) Use Exercise to Build Discipline That Helps You Fight Sin

Discipline in the gym is never just about the gym.

When you choose to wake up early, to do the hard set, to say no to laziness, you are training more than your muscles—you’re training your will. You’re practicing self-control, and self-control is a spiritual muscle.

Paul said:

“I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” – 1 Corinthians 9:27

Paul understood that the body and the soul are connected. Learning to tell your body “no” in one area makes it easier to tell your flesh “no” in other areas—anger, lust, pride, overeating, scrolling your life away.

Every workout is a small vote for becoming the kind of person who can say, “I don’t live at the mercy of my impulses.”

That’s not vanity. That’s spiritual training.

Progress in fitness teaches you a pattern: show up, do the work, trust the process. The same pattern applies to prayer, Scripture, marriage, and walking away from sin that’s been clinging to you for years.

Exercise becomes a tool God uses to shape character. More supporting verses: “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” – Proverbs 25:28 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 “Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” – Romans 13:14 “Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way.” – 1 Timothy 4:7–8

2) Strengthen Your Body So You Can Serve Others

We live in a culture that treats the body like a display case instead of a tool. "Be skinny, feel confident, be strong etc.,"

But the Christian view is different. Your health isn’t mainly for you—it’s for the people God has placed in your life.

You need energy to love your spouse well. You need strength to play with your kids. You need endurance to show up for friends, church, and the work God has called you to do.

Paul reminds us:

“Through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13

It’s hard to serve when you’re exhausted, hurting, and physically limited because you never cared for the body God gave you.

I think about this often. If someone needs help moving a couch, do I want to be the person who says, “Sorry, my back is too weak”? If my future grandkids want to run in the yard, do I want to watch from a chair?

If my son wants to play basketball or run track, can I be the one to teach him, help hi practice, and push him?

Taking care of your health is one of the most practical ways to love people.

Your fitness is not selfish when the goal is service. More supporting verses: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.” – Matthew 7:12 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good… for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” – Luke 6:45

3) Let Your Health Point Back to Christ, Not to You

This is where motives get real.

The fitness industry constantly whispers: Do this so people notice you. Do this so you’re admired. Do this so you feel superior.

But Scripture flips that upside down.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whatever you do includes how you train, how you eat, and how you talk about your body. Notice the end of the verse especially, "do all to the glory of God". Does it bring God glory to workout for the purpose of looking a certain way, or does it bring you glory?

Glorifying Christ with your health doesn’t mean you need a perfect physique. It means:

• You’re grateful instead of obsessed.

• You pursue progress without making fitness your identity.

• You care for your body because it’s a gift, not a god.
  

When someone notices a change in you, the goal isn’t, “Look at my discipline. It’s, “God has been teaching me to steward my life better.”

That’s a completely different spirit than the pride the fitness world sells.

More supporting verses:

“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7 “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father.” – Matthew 5:16

Exercise Is Never Just Exercise

If we’re honest, workouts can become idols fast. I’ve been there. Chasing numbers, chasing appearance, letting the scale decide my mood.

But when exercise flows from these three purposes—discipline, service, and glorifying Christ—it stops being vain and starts to become meaningful.

You don’t need a perfect plan. You don’t need flawless motivation. You just need the right direction.

Progress over perfection.

If this message resonates with you, join this year's first cohort of the 6:19 Method.

The 6:19 Method is a Christ-centered 12-week coaching program that brings together evidence-based nutrition and exercise science with a biblical vision for health—helping you steward your body, grow in discipline, and pursue wellness for the glory of God.

Learn more here: 6:19 Method

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