July 23, 2019 GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE
1 Timothy 4:8, 12, 15-16: “for bodily discipline is only for a little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, shown yourself as an example of those who believe. Take pains with these things, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
In our culture, there is high value placed on the physical body, whether it is frequent trips to the gym, being super conscience about what we eat, or making sure we are in style in how we dress. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with staying physically fit, or having a good diet, and dressing appropriately, but if these things take priority over the condition of our spiritual health, then we are in error. We don’t hear very often the admonition to be godly in thought and conduct, and perhaps it is because we as a society are not focused on godliness. We seem to think that if we highlight or point out our sin, or ungodliness, and how we often do not please God, we are being humble and we are more apt to get an audience. If we find it is difficult for us to say that we are living a godly life, then we have misunderstood the call to godliness. To be godly simply means to live way that looks like God. “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” 1 Peter 1:15. For sure, it is right to confess when the Holy Spirit convicts of something that we do that displeases the Lord, but at the same time, we should communicate how the Lord has given us not only the desire, but the power to be godly. There is also a tendency for us to segment or view godliness as a ‘high and lofty’ concept, and not see godliness as something we are to walk out daily. We may relate godliness to going to church, praying, or doing something of a spiritual nature. However, because we have been set apart and because we have been joined to God, we are to be holy, or godly in all that we do. Although we are to act in a godly way, being godly is more about who we are. To be godly in conduct is not something we can do in our own strength, but because we have been made ‘godly’, we can now live godly; we are not ‘ungodly’ people trying to be godly. The verses above tell us to be an example to all believers in how we conduct our lives. Just as diligent as we may be to be physically fit, we are to be even more diligent, and attentive to living in godliness. Paul tells Timothy to “take pains with these things,” “be absorbed in them,” and to “pay close attention to yourself,” and to “persevere in these things.” Even though God has set us apart and made us holy, it is our responsibility to respond to His work in us and to walk in the provision He has made in order for us to live in a godly way. It sounds so simple, but it is a matter of reading the scriptures and then actually putting into practice what the scriptures teach as the Holy Spirit leads. Of course, one must have the Holy Spirit living in them and they must have a desire to know and to walk in the ways of the Lord if they are to be godly. So, let us take care of our physical bodies as we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, but let our highest priority in life be that of disciplining ourselves for godliness. After all, godliness is profitable in this present life, and the one to come. May we obey the plain teachings of scripture.
2 Peter 1:3: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
James 1:25: “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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