Training In Godliness
TRAINING IN GODLINESS
1 TIMOTHY 4:6-11
What do we learn here about living in this world and preparing for the next?
The idea that we simply grow in the Christian faith by doing nothing about it is crazy. Paul has already pointed out that the devil is active and eager to trip up even Christian leaders (3:7). Now he develops the theme that it is important for the servants of God to train themselves in godliness (4:7). There is always the temptation to set up any rules that may be devised by Christians into a system that must be obeyed at any cost. It is even easy to slip into the error of thinking that our systems enable us to achieve merit before God. When such attitudes occur, our systems are a snare. But that does not mean that we should go to the opposite extreme and simply drift through life. We must be nourished (4:6). We must be trained (4:7). We must toil and strive (4:10). It can be very helpful for believers to work out guidelines by which we engage in the kind of reading, prayer, worship, etc which will build us up in the faith. There is no one way of doing this. To lay down rules binding on all Christians would be a calamitous error. But, human nature being what it is, for the average Christian settled habits, especially of prayer and Bible study, are tremendously important.
Christians are nourished on “the words of the faith” and of “good doctrine” (4:6). This means that study of the Bible and of Christian doctrine are necessary. The fact that we do this will in itself put us off “godless and silly myths” (4:7). There are many perversions of the faith. But Christians who are nourished on the word of God and sound doctrine will not readily fall prey to them.
We are familiar with the value of physical exercise for the development of physical fitness. Paul brings out the point that there is a spiritual analogy (4:8). He goes further, pointing out that training in godliness is valuable not only in the here and now, but also “for the life to come.” How foolish therefore to neglect it! He solemnly assures Timothy of the importance of this (4:9) and rounds off the section with the reminder that all this is worth doing because our hope is set on God.
When Paul speaks of God as “the Savior of all, especially of those who believe” he is not saying that all will be saved ultimately and that believers will be specially saved. He is saying that God watches over all people, delivering them from evils and showering his blessings on them. He makes his sun shine on all and sends rain on just and unjust alike (Matthew 5:45). But “Savior” has a fuller, richer and deeper meaning for those who believe. They are saved in a way other people are not.