Difference between the Worldly and Godly Lifestyle:
Proverbs 14:12 (KJV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is this pattern we follow in our everyday life. Life usually revolves around the eating, drinking and being merry (Luke 12:19).. Of course we need money, which leads to the activities of establishing a career, a source of income, to sustain our ‘eat, drink and be merry’ lifestyle. You don’t need any sort of special training to follow this pattern. The very need to achieve standards set by the world is enough to push you into this almost vain routine. Of course, it’s not as easy as it used to be.
This routine brings in divisions and alienation from family lives. At the same time it makes people work, think and act like machines with gadgets and information becoming the top of priorities.
Like the wisest of men says there is a way that seems good to man but in the end it leads to destruction (Proverbs 16:25). This vanity is pretty much what it is to live worldly lives. After all these years of pursuing the best interests in life, we only witness that much evil, sickness, pestilence and war in our world.
Apostle Paul in this epistle talks about living godly lives. If we were to define a godly lifestyle, it begins with the practice and upholding of spiritual disciplines; a life of purity and model that is given completely for the Lord. We live godly lives when our every action and decision is made to please the Lord and not the world. From the time a child of God wakes up in the morning till he goes to bed, every activity is done with the intention to represent the kingdom of God in the realm and place God has kept him or her.
This doesn’t come as easy as living a worldly life. Apostle Paul talks about training ourselves to be godly. Notice how he underlines training ourselves. This means it begins with us and only you can get yourself into that discipline.
The Greek word that Paul uses to explain training is ‘Gymnaso or Gumnaso‘. In ancient Rome, those participating in the Olympics and games, gladiators and soldiers went into a strict diet and training just like how it is today. To get to the best shape they could, focus and importance was given much to training.
Similarly to live godly lives, we are to be given to following strict spiritual disciplines. We ought to understand the seriousness of how important our spiritual lives are. We must plan for it. We cannot dismiss being godly as something only for those in ministry. Some try to confine godliness to the limit and purview of the church. It doesn’t work like that. Apostle Paul talks about living godly lives everyday. You stand as a model to this generation for God. Your life ought to be trustworthy- appreciating and respecting one another. This beautiful life however never happens by chance expect that you plan, take a decision and put the effort to stand by it.
Training- How do you train?
Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Training is a continuous process. No one who goes on to undertake training can do it for a day and stop it. It takes a life given to discipline and trying. This is what the apostle means when he tells us to train ourself to be godly. How does one train?
In the book of Hebrews, he talks about the strict training to be godly, wherein you throw off every thing that weighs you and every sin that easily entangle you, focusing upon Christ alone as we run the race of life. This calls for a continuous check on our lifestyle, what we watch, do and think directly influences our spiritual lives. Are you able to turn away from things that don’t please God? If not, then we are on a path that leads to death.
We continuously train ourselves to be godly and keep a check on our spiritual life so that we are not found wanting at the coming of the Lord. As a believer in Christ sometimes we satisfy ourselves with a routine prayer life, a ‘Sunday-holy-day’ life, wherein only on one day of the week we have anything to do with God and the rest of the week we live as we like. Once saved is not always saved, we work our salvation every single day.
Apostle Paul talks about beating his body and bringing into submission so that after having preached to others he himself is not disqualified. That’s the same mentality we ought to carry when it comes to being godly. It requires immense effort to live what can be easy to preach (1 Corinthians 9:27).
This is a great mystery this godliness (1 Timothy 3:16). We cannot do to overlook it. Even physical training is only of some value to us in this world. We spend so much time to groom and fashion our physical body that wears away with time by adopting well-planned diets, exercise regimes and making healthy lifestyle choices. But think of working on our godly living, godliness holds value for both the present age and the age to come; yet we so easily neglect it to our danger. Today let’s come back to the Lord (1 Timothy 4:8,9).
Let us get more God-oriented, living not for the world but for the One who sent you here. Fleeing from all that is causing us to sin; from godless talks and myths that surround us vying for our attention and devotion. Let’s set daily goals and put in the focus and work needed to be more godly and less worldly. We may fail many times before we get it right but it’s a daily process to be godly.
The Blessings of a Godly Life.
Godliness brings a rich culture of blessing with it.
As we train to live godly lives, we begin to have the peace of God reigning over our lives. As you trust, work and pray, you begin to build the kingdom of God by building lives and being a living testimony for the Lord.
We begin to understand your purpose that God sent you on earth and you are pleased to do His will.
The greatest blessing involves the golden principle of the Bible which is having contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-10). You and I begin to stop seeking God only to receive material blessings from Him. We are more faithful and fulfill our responsibility to serve Him here on the earth.
Training in godliness roots out selfishness, love of money and lethargy out of our being. Instead we start seeking God more earnestly and we begin to live testimonial lives for the glory of God.
Conclusion:Apostle Paul uses words to help us understand the truth of God’s word by painting a picture in our head. Here while talking about godly training, he brings to mind that of soldiers and gymnasts training for games. He talks about the value being godly adds up to our life even for eternity. How is your fellowship with God today? The Lord is calling us to train ourselves to be godly. Let’s put off everything that hinders our walk with the Lord. Let us become more spiritually sensitive. All of heaven and earth, with its saints and angels are looking at how we are running in this race called ‘Life’. Let us fight the good fight and keep the faith. Make the Lord’s work the priority and you will lead a life of great gain both in this world and the world to come.
