“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.” 1Timothy 4.8
It would be easy to look at this verse and simply say something like, “It doesn’t do any good to exercise.” But that is NOT what Paul is saying. He is drawing a distinction between that which profits us in this life only and that which profits us both in this life and the life to come.
So, do we know what godliness is? I am sure I would get as many different definitions as the number of people that I ask. But in the simplest terms, could we agree that godliness is living a life that pleases God, glorifies God, and allows the world around us to see God in us? I don’t think that is a stretch at all. If you are reading this and think, “Man, that changes everything in my life”, maybe that is what God wants – a total change of life.
“ … godliness is profitable unto all things … ” There is no DOWN SIDE to living a godly life. We win, God wins, and the world gets to see that God really does make a difference in the lives of those who trust Him. If my life does that on a regular basis, then godliness is profitable.
Let’s take a look at these last two phrases: “having promise of the life that now is … ” Paul is telling young Timothy that his life down here on earth will be better if he chooses a life of godliness. Remember, Paul is mentoring Timothy – telling him what works and what doesn’t work in the life lived here on earth. But he goes on: “the life that now is and of that which is to come.” I don’t believe we think enough about the life that is to come. First of all, it is difficult to imagine what it will be like. But, Satan is very clever in focusing our attention on the “here and now” and distracting us from the life that is to come. Let’s remember today that there is a connection between “the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” Just think about it … these are Just My Thoughts …
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