Pursuing godliness

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. 1 Timothy 4:7-11

With the year about to end, we will be bombarded with plans on how to improve ourselves. There will be diet plans, exercise programs, health foods, beauty aids, etc.; all are for the purpose of improving our lifestyles. They are well and good and we might find them beneficial but God does not want us to just be preoccupied with improving our self-image by taking care of our outward physical improvements and negating what our true priorities should be. This was what Paul was telling Timothy from the text where he commended him for taking the time to have physical training but reminded him to not neglect training for godliness. He warned him to stay away from godless ideas promising great results yet will result in ungodliness. This is why we needed to be grounded in the truth so we will not be easily misled. True godliness is the result of living our lives based on the revealed truth of God’s word. Godliness is beneficial not only in this life but in the life to come. Nothing escapes godliness for it covers every area of our lives; marriages, relationships, view of one self, jobs, careers, civic responsibilities, etc. In the end, no matter how much we take care of our physical bodies, we will all succumb to death. We have to face this truth this is why the Lord Jesus Christ addressed this matter when He said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). Attaining godliness does not happen in a vacuum. We have to make a deliberate decision that we will engage ourselves in spiritual disciplines with the purpose of attaining spiritual growth. It is by living the life of Christ that is in us that will strengthen us to pursue godliness. God gave Himself so that He can make us “holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish” (Ephesians 5:26-27).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com