Pursuit of Godliness

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. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for 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. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For 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.

Trained

1 Timothy 4:6 ESV

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.

A Trainer

The first thing that Paul points out is that Timothy had a trainer. In fact, this is spelled out in Paul’s second letter to Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:10–17 ESV

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

A Good Servant for every Good Work

As Paul shifts the focus from teaching the church to Timothy’s personal development he begins with this idea of being a Good Servant. Paul himself has trained Timothy and taught him the value of the scriptures. The goal of this training is to prepare Timothy to be a Good Servant.

So, what does this training look like?

The Enemy of Godliness

The enemy of godliness is the devil. His strategy has been the same from the beginning. He is selling a counterfeit godliness. It’s the spiritual version of “Curls for the girls”. It doesn’t really take that much effort and its goal is shallow.

Counterfeit Godliness

So Paul writes this to Timothy:

1 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for 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.

Irreverent (godless, ungodly) and silly myths have to go.

Warnings from 1 Timothy:

1 Timothy 4:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

1 Timothy 1:3–4 ESV

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

What are the goals of these ungodly teachings? They want you to spend time in speculation rather than adoration and take credit away from God for the good things He has given us. They are trying to draw us away from the truth and to trap us in a lie.

How do these myths and false teachings trap us?

1. We fall in love with the world.

We fall in love with the sin that is offered to us:

The sins of ease, comfort, and complacency.

Power, prosperity, and position.

Listen to what the apostle John has to say:

1 John 2:15–16 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

This love of the world leads to a second step in derailing our training for godliness. That is conformity.

2. We conform to the world.

The strategy of the enemy is to get you to fall in love with ungodliness. Doesn’t it look good, won’t it make you better; wiser, smarter, sexier, richer, fuller, more authentic, more holistic, more god-like.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

As with physical training, which Paul admits has “some” value, training in godliness requires a disciplined mind.

Which of these will make me godly be feeding my brain?

(illustration: Hold Phone and pretend to scroll social media, then hold Bible and Read.)

Training for Godliness

1 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

Paul makes a side note indicating that training of the body is of some value. He is encouraging Timothy not to neglect his health but to keep things in perspective. Training in godliness is better by far.

How do we train in godliness?

Eat well: Study God’s Word

Luke 4:4

Luke 4:4 ESV

4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ”

2. Think well: prayer, meditation, solitude

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV

5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

3. Detox well: Fasting and Rest

Matthew 6:16 ESV

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

John 4:32–34 ESV

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV

27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Exodus 20:8–11 ESV

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Mark 2:27 ESV

27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

4. Worship well: Worship in all things.

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Training in godliness is essential for the growth of the believer and the health of the church. How can you add these disciplines to your life?

Eat well: Make an appointment with God to listen to him by the reading of his word.

Think well: Carve out time to talk with God, listen to God, and apply the word of God to your life. Practice Solitude by planning a regular time to be with God with no distractions.

Detox well: Learn about and try fasting. Start small and listen to God. Don’t ignore God’s design for your body to work and REST!

Worship well: Build your whole life around the truth of God’s Word and your relationship with Him. Be present when his body (the church) gathers. Be on mission everywhere else.

Godliness leads to genuine worship.

John 4:23 ESV

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

Paul finishes this section with these two points.

1 Timothy 4:9–10 ESV

9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For 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.

Living a godly life takes work.

Are you ready to train? Are you ready to take a look at your life and ask if you are spiritually eating well, thinking well, detoxing well, and worshiping well? Are you ready to grow and change? Are you ready to do the work?

Living a godly life takes faith.

Our walk with God as a mysterious combination of disciplined living and dependence on the Holy Spirit. As you begin to apply spiritual disciplines in your life, don’t forget that it should always lead you to worship and deeper dependence on God.

Let’s close with these words from the Apostle Paul:

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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