Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. [Revised Standard translation]
Psalms 90:12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. [New International translation.]
Summary
The book of Proverbs, written by King Solomon of Israel, David’s son, is said to contain a number of wise and weighty sayings. A proverb, much like a parable, is meant to convey a truth, a piece of wisdom, a little lesson for living a better life. Proverbs are our “instructions for living” contained in short phrases.
One of the things immediately apparent in Proverbs 16:2 and Psalms 90:12 is the importance of weight and gain.
Our culture places a great deal of emphasis on weight gain. Mention weight gain and most people immediately think about their waist lines, the pounds they want to shed or their physical weight. A great number of people will immediately start to think of calories, body fat percentage, being overweight, stomach size, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, dieting and the like.
For others, like many younger people, trying out for basketball teams or baseball teams or other sports, weight gain may be a longing or a desire. For them weight gain may mean being more competitive on the field or on a court. Weight gain for this group may mean rising to welter weight, or middle weight or heavy weight. Weight and gain may determine whether someone ends up as a linebacker or a running back. Weight and gain may determine their position on a basketball, soccer or wrestling team.
Like the Beatitudes, JESUS’ Proverb-like, “blessings” and sayings in “The Sermon on the Mount” (see, Matthew 5:1-11), Proverbs 16:2 and Psalms 90:12, remind us that the way we “look at things” may be different from how GOD “looks at things.” Our human “focus” on physical weight and gain may be seriously overlooking a “higher” meaning of weight and gain. Instead of focusing on the way “we want to see ourselves,” or how “others may see us physically,” we should instead focus on the way GOD “sees” us and how GOD “weighs” us. Instead of asking about physical weight gain or loss, Psalms 90:12 suggests the question we ask our children, nieces, nephews, Sunday School students and ourselves is “how much more wisdom” did they or we gain this past week, this past month or this past year? Every Sunday, perhaps we should ask GOD if there is anything “weighting down” our hearts and spirits? We should unburden ourselves to HIM, and simply, lose the weight.
Instead of trying to weigh ourselves, we must trust GOD to do the weighing. We should allow GOD to spiritually weigh us to determine:
- Whether we are prideful (Prov. 16:5, 19);
- Whether we are loyal to God, faithful, merciful, truthful, and love God (Prov. 16:6);
- Whether we are understanding (Prov. 16:22);
- Whether we speak kind/pleasant words (Prov. 16:24);
- Whether we obey and trust God (Prov. 16:20);
- Whether we are allowing God to direct our steps (Prov. 16:9).
- Whether we are just. (Prov. 3:33).
GOD will determine whether we are wise. GOD will determine whether we are the right weight.
Weight Training
One of the ways that many people attempt to reduce their physical weight and enhance their physical fitness is by weight training. Weight training is a type of strength training. Weights are used as a resistance and challenge to muscles. According to Mayo.clinic.com strength training is important for everyone, especially as we age. It is a matter of “use it” or “lose it:”
Muscle mass naturally diminishes with age. "If you don't do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose, you'll increase the percentage of fat in your body," says Edward Laskowski, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN., and co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. "But strength training can help you preserve and enhance your muscle mass — at any age."
(Emphasis added.) See, www.Mayoclinic.com. According to Mayo Clinic, some of the proper principles for weight training include the following:
- Learn proper technique. For best results, proper technique is essential. If you're not sure whether you're doing a particular exercise correctly, ask a personal trainer or other fitness specialist for help.
- Do a single set of repetitions. Theories on the best way to approach weight training abound, including countless repetitions and hours at the gym. But research shows that a single set of 12 repetitions with the proper weight can build muscle just as efficiently as can three sets of the same exercise. So what's the proper weight? One that's heavy enough to tire your muscles after about 12 to 15 repetitions. You should be just barely able to finish the last repetition.
- Start slowly. If you're a beginner, you may find that you're able to lift only a few pounds. That's OK. Once your muscles, tendons and ligaments get used to weight training exercises, you may be surprised at how quickly you progress. Once you can easily do 12 repetitions with a particular weight, gradually increase the weight.
- Take time to rest. To give your muscles time to recover, rest one full day between exercising each specific muscle group. You might choose to work the major muscle groups at a single session two or three times a week — or plan daily sessions for specific muscle groups. For example, on Monday work your arms and shoulders, on Tuesday work your legs, and so on.
From, “Weight Training, Improve Your Muscular Fitness,” www.MayoClinic.com. Again, be sure to work with a trainer if you are using weights for the first time.
As you progress and become more comfortable, you may want to take time to refine, define or enhance your weight training. For example you may want to:
- Work on learning how to breathe properly. For example, exhale when pushing against the weight. Inhale when there is no resistance and remember to never hold your breathe.
- Work on various body parts and muscle groups. For example, alternate days when you work on upper body muscle groups and lower body muscle groups.
- Work on your form. For example, observe yourself in a mirror as you weight train or have a friend or trainer work with you to make sure you are not straining your back.
- Work on learning how to combine weight training with other exercise activities (e.g. walking with weights, Zumba with weights, Plyometrics with weights, etc.) after you feel comfortable with basic weight lifting.
If you have a previous injury, have a physically disabling medical condition or have other medical problems, consult your personal physician for the best weight training program for you, given your medical condition.
Pray for Total Fitness
It is easy to become overly concerned about physical weight and completely lose sight of the importance of our “spiritual” weight and fitness. However, if we are to heed the words of in Proverbs 16:2 and Psalms 90:12, every time we step on a scale, we should also remember that GOD has a scale too. We should remind our children as they start the new school year that their goal is to gain a “heart of wisdom.” We should remind them that there is a numerical grade from that can be gained on tests through study and hard work and there is also a “the spiritual grade” that GOD will give them when HE looks at how they study to become useful servants of GOD and how they treat their classmates and others.
Let us all increase our physical health and fitness by mindful eating, exercise, weight and strength training, and prayer. But most importantly, let us all strive to increase our spiritual health and fitness by studying God’s WORD, prayer and learning how to come to the LORD with our burdens! Let us all strive to commit our work, our ways, our minds, our bodies and our spirit to the LORD.
Today and every day, aim for total weight and gain fitness!
Be strong in the LORD and BE BLESSED!
