Wanting to be good at something, is it a sin ? Is it a sin to compete in something ? Because the goal is to be better than your opponent, that's unavoidable. So if you want to be better than your opponent, isn't it a way to glorify yourself ? And in glorifying oneself, isn't it a sin ? How can you compete at something without having a certain pride of wanting to be good ?
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Guest, Join Papa Zoom today for some uplifting biblical encouragement! --> Daily Verses
Self-improvement : sin ?
- Thread starter dave91
- Start date
No!
You're too intent on being this humble person.
You're supposed to want to win.
Try to figure out why you feel this way.
Is it a misunderstanding from scripture?
Are you mistakingly using scripture to cover an attitude problem?
IOW, WHY do you feel this way?
Everyone on this thread said you should play to win and to do it for God.
Because I know I've always had problem with pride and egocentrism. Not the kind of pride that would make me boasting to anyone and only talking about myself, but a kind of inner pride that wants to be well seen, to be loved by people, and I would dare to say to be above people, unfortunately. And I know God hates proud people, so I want to make sure that I am really humble in God's eyes. I know those sins of my heart have pushed me far away from God. I really want to be sure that I don't have this motivation of glorifying myself anymore, that I'm not my own God anymore and that I really live for God. But I keep feeling I'm not humble enough.
When I wasn't living for God, I trained a lot and I took way too much pride in it. I felt like by being athletic, that made me more respectable for other people, and more attractive for girls. I felt more confident because of that. I know it's pathetic but it's true. Now I want to start training again, without those bad motivations, just for the pleasure of pushing myself, and to give myself some challenge. But even so, I can't help wondering why would I want that ? Explain me why someone would want to be in shape ? What does it changes, how does it glorify God ? Why would I want to be in good shape, and not just have the average shape ? I don't need to be strong and muscular to be healthy, I just have to have a good lifestyle. Eating well, sleeping well, exercising a little bit, but that doesn't need to be those intense training that will make me more athletic.
Why talk about God as if He is not all that matters, such as questioning men and women, as if they have more important answers to give than God ?
If God has His eyes on someone, do you really believe they are unanswered by Him in everything they think, and feel, or they get answers all along, and if they go into any wrong path, which is against God, God will give a chastening which is unmistakable, and that is what takes pride away, plus we learn what is right with God, that way, which other people cant answer to us with, because it is entirely by God, His Spirit, and done on our body and our life. ( nobody else will know, notice, or feel what the person chastised by the Lord, knows only for themselves.)
The amount of freedom in a persons life, is either God working with them very little, or not at all. We are taught bodily exercise profits little, because even 2000 years ago it was something a person has an idea about, and nowadays it is very popular, and all things we can do for ourselves are very popular, maybe you might get the idea of what that means from the verse.
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
dave91, do you think Paul was committing sin when he penned this?
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day.
1 Timothy 4:6-8 NKJV
Or how about in this parable told by Jesus. Were the servants who strived to gain more guilty of sin?
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’"
Matthew 25:14-23 NKJV
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day.
1 Timothy 4:6-8 NKJV
Or how about in this parable told by Jesus. Were the servants who strived to gain more guilty of sin?
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’"
Matthew 25:14-23 NKJV
Highway54
Member
Anything can be a sin, if it takes away seeking the Kingdom first, it is a sin. Mat 6:33
OK.
So you know this is a weak point for you.
This is why you're so concerned.
I can say that the evil one knows our weak points and will always take advantage of them.
If you still feel some kind of pride, then it's a sin like any other sin. God knows you. Confess it and carry on. You might get totally over this sin one day and you might not. God knows our heart and forgives us many times or we'd all be headed for hell.
it's good that you're aware of this. It's a good first step. As soon as you feel this distorted pride, confess it immediately and carry on.
You can't TRY to be humble.
You can only be yourself and confess what you don't like about yourself.
There are a host of physical and mental benefits to exercise and there is nothing wrong with pushing yourself to do the best you can with it, as long as it doesn’t become a stumbling block for you. If you find yourself becoming proud, ask God to keep you humble, and trust me, he will humble you.
Strength is key for old age. Get strong and stay strong.
Riven
Member
Fine. Be fat and glorify God by eating mega stuffed Oreo cookies.
Make sure he knows you're kidding...
Smiley face?
Riven
Member
No, I'm serious. Those mega stuff Oreos are the best.
If we look for self improvement in the New test, it is done by self denial, losing our life to find it again.
We follow the example of Christ and His apostles, or we follow something else, that influences us to go on that wide path to destruction many are on.
The enemies of the cross of Christ have God as their belly, minding earthly things, instead of the conversation in heaven, ( not of earth) and that is where we look for the Saviour. ( not here, and not in the talk that people like to talk.)
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
We follow the example of Christ and His apostles, or we follow something else, that influences us to go on that wide path to destruction many are on.
The enemies of the cross of Christ have God as their belly, minding earthly things, instead of the conversation in heaven, ( not of earth) and that is where we look for the Saviour. ( not here, and not in the talk that people like to talk.)
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Sorry but I just can't see how working out and getting in shape glorifies God. When I see someone muscular and in a good shape, I don't think "Wow, this person is muscukar, glory to God.". Therefore, if I train, I won't feel like I'm doing this for God, but only for my own ego and pride of wanting to be more and more athletic and to look good. Yes, as you all pointed out, God wants us to take care of our bodies, but as I pointed out too, there's no need to be athletic to be healthy. As long as you have a good lifestyle, (eating well, sleeping well, doing a little bit of exercice) you are healthy and you will live for a longtime. So I can't help thinking that training to be strong and muscular is a sin, because it's not necessary and you can't really claim that you do that with the idea of glorifying God for the reasons I explained. I used to train and be very proud about my results, and I don't see how it could be different if I started again.
Sorry for my weird questions but this christian life is so complicated and I feel like I'm always sinning unless I pray, read the Bible or help people...
Sorry for my weird questions but this christian life is so complicated and I feel like I'm always sinning unless I pray, read the Bible or help people...
Riven
Member
This entire thread reminds me of that scene in Talladega Nights where Ricky Bobby thinks he's paralyzed and all of his friends are trying to convince him that he's really not. Lol.
It is fine for you to believe that, but you can't put that onto others. And glorifying God with our bodies has nothing to do with what others think about our bodies; that's fully on them. I workout regularly and do it for the mental and physical health benefits, which glorifies God. Regular, moderate exercise has significant benefits for old age, including to help ward off or at least slow the progress of things like dementia, diabetes, and heart disease. It can help protect against falling or breaking something if one falls. It also helps keep one healthy and strong enough to be able to be helpful to others.
You may not be able to do it without it becoming an issue of pride, but that doesn't mean pride becomes an issue for others.
Your questions are fine. There is just much more you need to learn about Christianity and what the Bible says, as we all do in various ways. This is a lifelong process.
Riven
Member
Everyone has been trying to tell you that you're wrong. Getting in shape is not a sin. Gluttony is a sin.
Are you looking for justification for you desire to workout from CFnet members? Seems to me that you are answering your own questions. Perhaps there is something about yourself that needs to be worked on.