Paul was a very smart, respected man among the Christian people of the early Church. He wrote many letters to different churches to address issues or to encourage the people, and those letters compose the majority of the New Testament. I cannot say that I have a favorite book written by Paul. They are all awesome for a variety of reasons. However, as a young guy who has a lot to learn, I appreciate the letters Paul wrote to Timothy.
Paul was a mentor to Timothy. They labored together for the cause of the Gospel, and when Paul grew older, he took the opportunity to write to Timothy, giving him sound advice on how to be an effective leader in the church. There is so much to be taken from these letters, many will speak of 1 Timothy 4:12 when talking to youth, for it says “let no one despise you for your youth, but set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” That is an amazing verse, encouraging young people to be leaders. One passage, however, has been on my mind recently.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 says…
“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 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.”
Sometimes I may place an importance on being healthy, which is not a bad thing. I will be good at exercising and make healthier choices when it comes to my diet. What is convicting though, is that there are times where I make being healthier a top priority, while growing in godliness is put on the back burner.
For you, it may not be bodily training that takes the forefront of your mind. You may place an importance on work, you may set aside time to watch your favorite TV show or do some other activity. How many of us can say that while we set aside time to do activities that are of this world, we set aside time to read and study God’s Word and pray? Sadly, for many, it is not even something they think about.
Being healthy is a good thing, working hard at your job is a good thing. However, those things only profit you in this life. When we die, we do not take our six pack abs or our 401k with us. We have one life to live on this earth. God did not give it to us to waste on ourselves. Instead, He gave us our lives to honor and glorify Him, which in turns brings us the most joy and satisfaction. I encourage you to set time aside each day, to grow in your knowledge of God. Come to church and fellowship with other believers. Godliness isprofitable for this life and the lifeto come.