Is it a sin to workout for vain reasons?

[RextheRoman]

I think it may be but I want to know your opinion. Is it a sin to workout for vain reasons (ie. to appear more attractive to attract girls)?

[madrush]

I think it may be but I want to know your opinion. Is it a sin to workout for vain reasons (ie. to appear more attractive to attract girls)?

It's all about the heart I guess. I don't think that would be considered a sin. If other aspects of your life suffer because all you want to do is be attractive, then yes, I'd consider it a sin.

Comments?

[Paradigm]

Well I have personal experience with this.

I have been working out for a good 8 years. My goal was always to be the strongest guy possible, because in my mind, being strong meant I could defend myself.

I knew that I was putting Jesus in second place by doing that, because I wasn't trusting in him, but in my own strength.

3 months ago I had a terrible injury at the gym. I tore my tricep tendon with an 80% rupture. I have been like this now for 3 months, and have to wait for surgery for another 2-3 months.

I'm expected to gain maybe 50% of my original strength in my left tricep after the operation if lucky. I currently have around 20%, meaning I can't lift anything heavy with my left arm.

In essence, I will probably never be able to lift heavy again in my life, and have no choice but to trust God to protect me and not myself. I hope that he has mercy on me and that I make a recovery of more than 50%, and I will keep praying for it. I have learned my lesson in a very hard way.

As for working out for vanity, it depends. If you want to work out to look good so that you can help to please a potential wife, I don't see a problem with it.

If you work out to show off to everyone that you are better than them, and if you want girls to be attracted to you for "nefarious" reasons, then it's wrong.

[Daniel1210]

Scripture tells us that our body is a temple and not to defile it.
Not working out is defiling it.
There are few things in this life more ridiculous than some guy with a 52" waistline on a couch with a bag of potato chips, and a few beers, "That's disgusting" when ESPN has a show on male and female bodybuilders.

[jc513]

Vain reasons is a sin we all struggle with.

Just as Paul stated in Romans 7 as we battle with the flesh, do we do things for selfish pursuits rather than the service of God. Is it a sin to study the Bible, to be well versed in the Word of God? Yes, if you are doing it for the recognition of other people, than to grow in the Spirit. Romans 7:19; For the good that I wish, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. If we all look at our lives and see the things we do in our service for the Lord, be it leading a Bible Study class, homeless ministry, Church choir, or what, we want to do them to the service of the Lord, but how often do we all get caught up in wanting to be recognized by others of the service we do. Just look at the lesson of the widow's mite, where the rich were wanting the trumpets to sound and for people to hear the clanging as they gave their money at the Temple. Is giving a sin? yes, if it is for the attention to oneself.

We as Christians strive to do good, but we battle with the flesh, and feed the flesh, even when we are trying to do good. Fortunately with Jesus, we are dead in the flesh, and alive in the Spirit. Wretched man that I am, how can I overcome the flesh. There is no HOW, it is WHO, it is Who that set us free from our body of this death, and Jesus is Who.

[Tres Wright]

Scripture tells us that our body is a temple and not to defile it.
Not working out is defiling it.
There are few things in this life more ridiculous than some guy with a 52" waistline on a couch with a bag of potato chips, and a few beers, "That's disgusting" when ESPN has a show on male and female bodybuilders.

Exactly!! :thumb I keep in shape through jogging, swimming and lifting weights, and often I wonder if the Lord is moving me to do this because I will be called upon to do something for Him that requires a lot of physical labor. I like to picture myself as one of his soldiers ready to go into battle when He needs me. Certainly slobbing out on the couch is not a good way to wait to be called upon!

[fracturedInfinity]

You have to be careful about trying to attract women. If you want to go fishing for trout, you don't throw a piece of bloody meat into the ocean. That'll only attrack sharks. However, if you take some nightcrawlers and head over to your local river or stream, you'll have a better chance at catching what you went out for in the first place.

In looking for a mate, your best bet is to first pray and ask God to send the right woman into your life. Then, surround yourself with other believers. Just like you wouldn't fish in the ocean for a trout, you wouldn't go to a bar or nightclub looking for a good Christian woman to be your wife. Maybe find yourself a Christian singles group that meets for Bible study once a week, or something like that. Don't forget though, before anyone concerns themselves with relationships with other people, they need to have their relationship with God straight first. It really helps.

We shouldn't do anything for vain reasons. Vanity is rooted in placing self above all else. In essence, it is worshiping the created rather than the Creator and that is a sin.

1 Timothy 4:
6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Remember, all the time you spend working out, is time spent on something that will pass away and be worthless some day. Not that it isn't good to stay in shape, but our bodies are corrupt and will be destroyed.

[Hootmon]

:agree

[Sunny]

Humility vs. pride.

I find pride tries to invade every aspect of my life. It seems no matter what good I try to do in any area, somehow a little bit of pride always wants to rear it's ugly head.

Not wanting to throw the baby out with the bathwater, I often simply continue what I am doing, but viciously root the pride out. It often means I am confessing and praying right in the middle of whatever good thing I am doing, sometimes the entire time I am doing it.

Pride is the root of all sin, and I believe that if we examine it all very closely, it all goes back to pride in one way or another.

I wouldn't throw out the body building all together unless you simply find you cannot rein the pride in. But be tenacious in examining yourself, confessing it every second that you notice it, and rejecting it for what it is. And if it is too high on your priority list, I'd move it down a notch or two, below all the other things that ought to be taking more of your attention.

I believe the Lord will honor your diligence, and gradually remove the pride from it, as well as other areas.

PS - I didn't see 'men only' in the title, so I hope it's OK that I posted. :)

[MoreThanReady]

I"ve been working out for almost 3 years now. Looking better is a by product of the working out.
now that i've gotten stronger, I really need to work on some body sculping (i.e.. actually watch what I eat and up the cardio) so I can get rid of some of the gut that comes with hitting middle age.