We live in a fitness-obsessed world. Everyone seems to be working out, thinking about working out, or dressing as if they just worked out. Those who aren’t are worried that they should be concerned. And while it is not bad to be concerned about our health, there is something that is worth a much greater investment.
In 1 Timothy, Paul was writing to his younger disciple, Timothy, reminding him that the spiritual life is hard work. He uses physical training as an analogy, exhorting him to train to be godly (v. 7). We don’t often associate godliness with training. Someone once revealed to me that he thought if he just spent time around Christians, it would rub off on him. Paul’s counsel is the opposite. Avoid things that draw you away from God and expend effort to become more like Him. Pushing the analogy further, while the results of physical exercise have some value, the results of godliness are valuable for everything (v. 8).
Godliness, or the lack thereof, touches every area of our lives. It affects our relationships. It affects our work. It affects the choices we make. With so much at stake, it should be no surprise that Paul uses words like “labor” and “strive” to describe the Christian life (v. 10). We prefer to focus on themes of rest and calm in the Christian life as we confront a frenetic world, and that is appropriate. But it is also important for us to remember that leaning in, pushing hard, and working out are also part of the Christian life.
We do not train in godliness to impress others. We do it because we represent those who have placed their hope in God. Living a life of godliness shows the world that Christ is more valuable to us than anything else.
Go Deeper
Do useless conversations and debates dominate your spiritual diet? How can you lean into training in godliness? What will be your area of focus this week? Extended Reading:
1 Timothy
Pray with Us
Lord God, guide us on the road to godliness and give us strength to persevere in faith! What a blessing it is to receive advice and help from Your precious Word.
Train yourself to be godly.1 Timothy 4:7
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