One of my favorite funny sayings I’ve seen on the internet is “I have the body of a god. Unfortunately, it’s Buddha’s and not Apollo’s.” It’s funny, yet sadly true for many of us. More than 30 percent of men are obese in the U.S. The danger to our health is as deadly as any exterior enemy. I can’t speak firsthand to the effects on women, but for us men, why is fitness so important?

Medically, fitness is incredibly important for our health. Working out, aerobics, and lifting heavy things are proven to help with memory, anxiety, diabetes, and even some cancers. It can help keep us feeling young and functioning better as we age. As an added benefit, the self-confidence that comes with knowing we are healthy and capable will have a positive impact on our personal relationships and our work performance. But even beyond the health benefits, we have a responsibility to be fit.

In traditional Western society, our role in life as men is both as providers and protectors. Being out of shape is a direct threat to our ability to do both. For a fit fellow, how many jobs are available? For an overweight man, that number of options reduces drastically based on inability to perform various tasks. How better to ensure financial security for ourselves and our families than by being flexible with job opportunities?

Part of our role as protector is that of the provider. As I said above, financial security is one aspect of this. The other is physical safety. We’ve seen Antifa, mobs, riots, and physical assaults across the country. We’ve seen wildfires engulf neighborhoods, like on Maui. We’ve had tornados and hurricanes. Violent and horrible crimes against kids and adults fill the headlines. Are you fit enough to protect your family, your neighbor, your church, and your country in any of these scenarios? If you answer no, you need to be!

The medical and traditional roles of men fit right in with the biblical view of fitness. For those of us with a Christian worldview, the Bible tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This being the case, we have a duty to protect and care for that temple. There is no one way to accomplish this or a single look that fulfills that, but doing the best we can to remain in good health and ensure the integrity of our bodies should be high on the list.

Knowing the importance of fitness is the first step, but what if you’re like me and are on the journey, or need to start the journey, to attain it? Peer pressure toward bad habits or our pride might make it a daunting proposition to start, be we need to be humble and get to work. It may help to remember that fitness is not measured by a specific look but rather through functional and practical strengths. We don’t need to be an Olympic athlete, but we need to be able to lift, run, and defend those that depend on us.

While time and money might also seem like obstacles, we usually find a way for almost anything if we really want it, or if it’s important enough. We can make the time even if it requires sacrifice. The tools can be picked up rather cheaply, especially if they are used. A bench, some free weights, and a routine are all we need to make big improvements. Not every system of strength and weight loss will work the same for every man. It might take some trial and error, but starting is the most important step.

No matter where we are in the process, each of us can get better. Our families, society, and country need us to be strong. Let’s start the positive changes today and encourage others to join us in making us the men we are called to be!

—

Image credit: Pexels