Understanding Our Physical Capacity

Physical capacity varies dramatically from person to person. Some have been entrusted with strong, healthy bodies, whereas others have weaker bodies through illness or disabilities. Once our bodies have reached a certain age, they begin to deteriorate. This process is a part of the natural laws that govern the universe.

We do not need to be completely healthy in order to serve God. Jacob walked with a limp for most of his life after he wrestled with the Angel of the Lord (Genesis 32). Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' may well have been a physical ailment (2 Corinthians 12). Timothy suffered from frequent illnesses (1 Timothy 5:23). God can work through us whether we are healthy or sick. However, we need to be good stewards of our bodies in order to have the physical capacity to fulfil God's will for our lives.

The discipline of developing our physical capacity is a case of body maintenance, much like car maintenance. We aim to keep the body or car in good working order, and the better we care for it, the more service we will get out of it. For the majority of us, it is unreasonable to expect to have the same physical capacity when we are 60 as when we are 20. Our body will deteriorate, but we need to have a balanced approach to health and fitness.