1 Timothy 6:3–7 (ESV) — 3 If anyone teaches a
different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus
Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an
unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce
envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5
and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the
truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we
cannot take anything out of the world.
NOTE: Godliness, in
my mind, has always seemed similar to righteousness (or right-ness), living to
God's standard. Godliness is living like God. But most of the Biblical
dictionaries define it as devout practice and appropriate beliefs of God OR,
piety, behavior of a religion, OR reverence for God and respect for the beliefs
and practices related to him. The third turns me off because it is so vanilla
and does not seem to result in action. Both the first and second definition,
while similar in some ways, also emphasize practice of a belief or behavior
based on beliefs. In which case, godliness is doing or living as God commands
us to do and live. The definition then tends to also be similar to application,
putting God's word into practice in your life. Verse 6 makes a lot of sense in
that vein. There is great gain when we practice the teaching of God's word. It
is not financial or wellness, but spiritual change that makes our character
more like God and improves our witness to this world. The not-so hidden secret
of the Christian life, obeying God changes a person completely.
No comments:
Post a Comment