Strong Enough?

There seem to be so many "fitness gurus" during this time in history. Of course they have always been around, the fitness craze goes in cycles. 

Some gurus do what they do because of their own personal passion and some find it to be a profitable profession, while others just love having some kind of knowledge to share with others (they love a following). Fitness gurus focus on the physical body and nutrition in the attempt to improve life.  

There are intellectual gurus as well. Yes, they tend to be rocket scientists but they can also be professors as well as other highly educated persons who see mental knowledge as the best way to improve one's life. Physical fitness and mental capacity are each considered strength in their own right.

What about the person who has only one of these attribute? What about the person who has neither?  

 

During a character study in the Old Testament of the Bible I read about Sampson. Blessed by God from his birth, Sampson had many character flaws that seemed to keep him in troublesome situations. Sampson's biggest strength was physical. He was chosen by God, to be a Nazerite, as a be a judge in Israel. 

Most who hear of him, recognize that his strength came from not cutting his hair. Sampson knew of God's directions for him yet we see that his physical strength did not help his heart and soul, which were weak when it came to loving and following God. Sampson had very little self-control, he had anger issues, and he had a problem with lust. But God had a plan, to have Sampson to rescue Israel from the Philistines, despite Sampson’s poor choices and disobedience. It is obvious through Sampson's example that physical strength does not equal total strength.

So what about that person who is born with physical deformities or mental retardation that does not allow them to excel in the world's arena of  brains and brawn? What about the average person who is living life day in and day out with the stress of making ends meet? Can these people be "strong enough" to live a happy healthy life, to "improve life" without going to the gym daily or constantly reading to gain knowledge?

I say, "Yes". You see in the same book that contains the life history of Sampson I also read,  Deuteronomy 6:5 which says, “Love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.” That says to me that our true strength comes from loving God with our whole being. This was the strength that Sampson lacked, loving God with his total being. When we chose to love God with our heart (emotions), with our soul (mental capacity), and with our strength (physical), we become strong in ways we would have never imagined. Why? Because we focus on God and not on ourselves. When we focus on God, He strengthens us, He directs us, He gives us stability to do what He has for us to do. This is beautiful because it means that each individual who knows Christ as his or her personal Savior has a Strength that is limitless.

Am I saying "never exercise". No. Am I saying, "don't waste your time reading and learning new things". No. But to focus on either of these for the sheer purpose of being strong in that one area misses the mark of true strength, loving God with all our being.