Profitable unto all things

1 Timothy 4:8

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Here we have a blessed promise associated with the Christian life. It is a promise for this life and the next one. And it is a promise connected to godliness. The great Apostle does not mean to say that bodily exercise has no profit or is useless. Indeed, it has profit! Every one of us could use the benefits of bodily exercise. But it profits little. It certainly profits, but compared to the benefits that come from godly living, it only profits little. In fact, there are some who may be in the highest physical state, and have robust bodily health, but have no godliness. These people die without truly following Christ! What good is that? None, of course! But then a person may be lacking in physical health, or perhaps have not given good attention to the body, and with Christ, still have everything. The well-rounded Christian has an emphasis on both, but has them in the right order. We should give attention to the body, but most importantly, we should give attention to the spirit and to godliness.

Now, why should we do this? The Word of God has proclaimed for us that godliness is profitable unto all things! It affects every arm and discipline of life. There is nothing that is not improved by godliness! There is no life that could not be made better if it were to be enhanced by godly living! A physician may become a more acutely benevolent and helpful physician if he is a godly man. A salesman may be more caring, and much more honest if he is a godly man. A nurse may love and care more deeply, and show a greater concern and solicitude toward her patients if she is a godly woman! Godliness has promise of this life! What blessings will come to those who live according to the blessed and eternal principles of God’s Holy Word! What a blessed life can be lived by those who eschew and disdain evil, and choose a godly and holy life!

But we are also told here that godliness has promise of the life which is to come. That life which is to come is the life in which we will live with the Lord forever. It is that place in which all health will be restored and all peace and joy will be forever filling our hearts. There will be no more concern for sickness, sorrow, or death. And this is the life we have to anticipate! It is the life to come! And if we live godly lives, we will reap the benefits in that life. For we shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We shall all receive the things done in his body. We shall all give account of ourselves to God. And the account will be easier if we have lived a godly life. Otherwise, our works may be burned, and only the soul itself be saved. Oh, what promise is here for the godly Christian! “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,” Paul says to Timothy in his second epistle, “which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” What a crown will await the godly man and the godly woman! Be not discouraged, and be not distracted. Live a godly life, brother or sister, and it shall reap for you benefits in this life, and most certainly in that which is to come.

“Dear precious Lord, we pray that you would help us to see the benefits of living a spiritual and godly life as opposed to a worldly, fleshly, and carnal life. May we give attention where attention needs to be given, that we may be ready to meet you in the yonder skies, having lived a life for your glory. What a temporal and eternal promise is here! May this determine the course of our lives for your glory and honor. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”