No Grit Without Grace
"Every good and perfect gift comes from above." --James 1:17
Read: James 1
Yesterday at church, Pastor Shawn Thornton discussed the difference between being committed or being surrendered to spiritual things in our hearts; a perfect topic leading into Thanksgiving week. It made me think of a few bodily stewardship issues as you can imagine.
What is the difference between being committed to your health and surrendering it? I plan to tackle the question this week. Fascinating.
Yesterday on social media I raised the questions, “Do you earn your health? Is your health a gift or a trophy?” If you get a chance, please visit our Facebook page. Some truly wonderful responses came through. But you've likely seen someone post that health is "Always earned, never given." Sounds reasonable, right? You put in the work, you get the reward.
Sounds reasonable, but it's not exactly true. Granted, some people appropriately celebrate their health (and hopefully more and more of us each day), but even the byproducts of that discipline -- toned muscle, greater endurance, increased strength -- gift...gift...gift. Oh we don't like to admit it. We like to think we've earned the right to raise that banner and boast, "I EARNED THIS!"
But in truth, it's when we realize we have undeserved and unearned health that we can make the greatest impact with it. You’ve heard me say it before, but every byproduct of grit is a gift of grace.
But it’s more complex than that isn’t it? Consider the flip-side. There are those among us who are statistically apparently healthy, but who choose a sedentary lifestyle over an active one. Those who opt for poor food choices over balanced, sensible meals. Despite great genetics, honorable physical stewardship is the furthest thing from their minds.
If you're like me, you may have people close to you who have absolutely no health issues, but have no issue with ignoring it. Alive but not living. Healthy vital signs? Sure. Earned? No. A gift. An unopened gift.
Whether they're opened or still neatly wrapped, the Bible says that every single gift comes from above and that includes the body. Dallas Willard famously said, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it’s opposed to earning.” Like I said, fascinating, especially as I contemplate what that means in terms of committing myself to my health and/or surrendering my health or illness to God’s will.
This week I plan to peel back those layers as we head into Thanksgiving. But for today, just remember, as you wake up with grace and mercy, check and see if your heart's beating. If systems are a go, celebrate. Treat life like a Christmas morning kind of present. Open it up. It's when you see what's inside that you can really see what's inside you. And you can't give God the glory and claim it at the same time. Christians have to choose. So choose to walk, train, run, swim, strive, push, claw, climb, and reach with every single, grateful, thankful, humble, undeserved, unearned gift of health you got.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: All you have to do is visit a children's hospital and the idea that health is earned quickly evaporates. Are you a fitness person? A runner? A lifter? When it comes to your approach to health, what is the difference between commitment and surrender?
GEARING UP FOR #GIVINGTUESDAY
PrayFit presents "The Body" - a community of determined, generous, and passionate fitness-minded people like you giving anything they can to serve those with special needs. With #GivingTuesday fast-approaching, we pray you'll join us by giving $2/mo (just $2) and encourage others to do the same. You can start today.
