Paul was responding to a situation where some early Christians were advocating rejection of the world and all its pleasures, in order to live deep, spiritually-focussed lives. In the previous verse (v.3) he says that they had begun to suggest that Christians should abstain from marriage and some of the other pleasures of life - like food! Paul makes the point that food is part of God’s gift to us, is full of His creative love and that we should be truly thankful. Marriage, too, is defended!

Many years later, in 270 AD the Emperor has become concerned that the men of Rome were not enlisting for his army because they loved their wives too much to leave them. So he banned Marriage! One Christian priest was so much opposed to this edict that he openly disregarded it and continued to marry the young men and women of the city. That priest was Valentine and for his rebellion he was martyred on February 14th. The rest is legend, as they say.

It is important that we learn to enjoy the gifts of God and truly consecrate them to His glory.

For everything that we do enjoy we should always keep sight of the Creator ........ as we enjoy the fascination of a Constable, the elegance of a Caneletto and the depth of a Van Gogh, we also remember the artist who gave us the pictures.

I enjoy so many of life’s great gifts and seek to daily give thanks to God for them. I have always been uncomfortable with the ‘puritan’ spirit which tries to deny us the enjoyment of things both beautiful and fulfilling. Sometimes it has looked me in the eye with deep questioning: “how can a minister of the Church go to football and rugby matches?” My answer is because it gives me great enjoyment and I can openly thank the Lord for the experience.

Much of my ministry has developed in the world of Sport and I have long counted this as a great privilege. Sport was also something that St Paul recognised and on a number of occasions he was able to use sporting illustrations to secure a spiritual point. Look at 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (runners in a race and boxers in the ring) and 2 Timothy 2:5 (athletes obeying the rules). Now in our chosen passage he says ...

1st century Fitness Fanatics and we thought it was a modern idea! So, for all those who try to keep fit, the joggers and weight trainers,

the aerobics enthusiasts and the dieters, here is a scripture to enjoy!
Paul, in saying it, does not condemn or dismiss those who look after their physical fitness.
However, we must now read on, he has something to add!

Whilst we are, therefore, encouraged not to neglect our physical fitness we are also to ensure that godliness is still our first priority. My enjoyment of sport is not a problem unless it causes me to neglect my enjoyment of God. “Train yourself in godliness” (v. 7) says Paul. I must underline that challenge.

Modern society will nurture the physical (i.e.. sport & fitness), and also the mental (i.e.. quiz nights, TV quizzes, etc) but we are in real danger of neglecting the spiritual.

Al Kennedy plays Rugby Union in the Midlands. He was interviewed by Christians in Sport and asked: “Is rugby a part of your Christian life?” Al replied “Yes - I think of every part of my life as being Christian. God has made me with the gifts I have. I do feel his pleasure when I kick a goal”.

Christians in Sport is an organisation that seeks to help athletes to keep the focus of godliness alongside the demands of their sporting discipline. As a sport’s chaplain I share that vision and seek to help Christian sportspeople. I will also help to stimulate the vision of God’s gifts for those who may otherwise not see them!

George Orwell had a less positive understanding of Sport. He once wrote about the “Sporting Life” saying, “serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of rules and a sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence.
In other words it is WAR minus the shooting.”

It can sometimes be true!!! Would that more Christian people would therefore take their place in the world of sport and show that we can play hard but fair and witness to the wonderful presence of our Lord. Life can be real fun, let us give full expression to it.

Let me close with a lovely little verse from an Old Testament prophet: