Godiness Training

Good Morning,

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NRSV)
...Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Every time I read these verses the thought comes to me that there are many of us who spend endless hours...and endless dollars!...in "physical fitness" in order that we might live longer and more healthy lives. Then, the following thought always enters my mind that time and finances spend in training ourselves in what is called "godliness" in these verses, would be so much better spent.

Paul tells Timothy that "godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present live and the life to come." This advice given then applies perhaps even more today. There are many who spend almost no time and even less money in training themselves, learning, about the things of God and how to apply His words to our lives.

I have to admit that I'm among those who don't spend enough time and enough resources in matters of being more godly in my life.

The question would be...how many of us do? Is it so difficult? Is it so costly? The answer to both of those questions would be no, of course, it really isn't difficult and it really isn't costly.

The most difficult part is beginning, just like the most difficult part of physical training is getting started. But, unlike physical training, we don't need special shoes or clothes; we don't need to have an outlay of cash for a gym; there's no need to purchase expensive exercise equipment. All we really need is a Bible. Then, the analogy of physical training and godliness training comes to the same thing...starting. However, I daresay that it's easier to open a Bible on any given morning than it is to put on those special shoes and shorts and such and go out to run or jog. It's much, much easier to read Scripture than to go to the gym to get on a treadmill or stationary bike or lift weights and the such.

When we get down to it, godliness training that Paul speaks of is really not very difficult and its financial costs are nil. What it does take, though, just like physical training, is the "want to" . We must have the desire to be more godly.

The benefits are obvious...and enormous. But, as Paul points out, the benefits of godliness are "valuable in every way" and ought to be at the top of our priority list every day. Physical training? Sure. After we've done what we know we ought to do for our spiritual uplifting.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David