We have a tendency at times to get involved in secondary and even trivial issues. The Apostle Paul gives us the proper goal for our lives:

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;  (1 Timothy 4:7)

Our first priority is not to get sidetracked on topics of speculation. We must remember that good can often be the enemy of the best. Our lives are to be set apart for the purpose of godliness. Godliness is characterized by a God-centered attitude that seeks to be well–pleasing to God.

How does Paul indicate how to achieve godliness? He points out the need to discipline ourselves. The reflexive pronoun specifies our personal responsibility. The word used for discipline is the word from which we derive our English word gymnasium. It referred to those who were naked because they had laid aside every encumbrance to enhance their performance.

Figuratively, discipline refers to one who is diligently and seriously training. Discipline is essential to becoming a godly person. A disciplined person is able to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. Thomas a Kempis revealed the essential nature of discipline, “If you can win complete mastery over self, you will easily master all else. To triumph over self is the perfect victory.” Discipline is the road to freedom. You may not like the the pain of discipline, but it costs less than the pain of regret. Too many people have uphill desires with downhill habits.

We must realize that our discipline is the means, not the end to godliness. You are not automatically godly because you practice the spiritual disciplines. This was the problem with the Pharisees, they thought their religious performance could earn them favor with God. Godliness is the result of God’s Spirit transforming us through the spiritual disciplines. Next we see the reason why we are to discipline ourselves to be godly:

for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)

Paul makes several allusions to the benefits of bodily discipline and we know that bodily discipline can be helpful for our longevity and also our quality of life. Bodily discipline is of profit, but only in this world – it’s temporal. We see that godliness is profitable in both this present life and our life to come. C.S. Lewis, wisely observed, “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’: aim at Earth and you will get neither.”

The word Paul used for life denotes not simply physical life, but the fullness of life as God meant it to be. Are you disciplining yourself for godliness so you can experience an abundant life now and eternal life in the future?

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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