A. Throughout this series, we have used 1Timothy 4:7-8 as our defining passage of Scripture – "…Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 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. True godliness is the quality of being directed by God in all things, whether spiritual or temporal.
2. The practice of godliness naturally and providentially brings about certain benefits "for the present life and also for the life to come.” Godliness is a good way of life – in fact, it is the best way.
B. In this final lesson, we will consider how godliness will profit us in a few more areas of life, and we will notice the warning of 2Timothy 3:12 – "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
II. PROFITING BY GODLINESS
A. In previous lessons, we considered how godliness will profit us in every area of life – healthcare / diet, marriage, family, work / business, etc.
B. Additionally, godliness will benefit us when we are trying to influence others.
1. The highest purpose of our godly behavior is to bring glory to God and cause others to praise Him.
a. This purpose was assigned to us by the Lord in Matthew 5:14-16 – "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
b. To be the light of the world and bring glory to God, we must practice godly behavior. Notice Philippians 2:14-15 – "Do all things without grumbling or disputing so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”
2. If we consider bringing glory to God as our greatest achievement, then godliness is profitable for reaching that goal.
a. The godly work of the apostle Paul profited him to glorify God. Notice Galatians 1:22-24 – "I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, ‘He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they were glorifying God because of me.” (Gal. 1:22-24)
b. Godliness may not lead others to glorify God in this life, but they will glorify God because of His godly children when the Lord returns. Notice 1Peter 2:12 – "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
c. Conversely, ungodly behavior may lead others to speak evil of God as in the case of David’s sin with Bathsheba (2Sam. 12:14).
3. Godliness is also profitable for influencing others to obey the gospel.
a. Consider Paul’s advice regarding our influence in 1Corinthians 10:32-33 – "Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.” (See also 1Cor. 9:19-27.)
b. This theme of influencing unbelievers by godly behavior is common in the New Testament. Consider Romans 12:17-18; Galatians 6:10; Titus 3:2; Hebrews 12:14.
C. Godliness will even profit us in the entertainment we choose.
1. This world is filled with wicked forms of entertainment, and those who partake of them corrupt their hearts and do themselves harm.
a. Many rejoice in drunkenness although the Bible speaks against it. Consider these passages:
i. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” (Prov. 20:1)
ii. Proverbs 23:29-35 describes the destructive effects of strong drink and wine.
iii. "For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.” (1Pet. 4:3)
b. Some enjoy filthy movies and TV programs, trashy books and magazines, lewd jokes, and other things that are unfit for anyone, especially saints of God.
i. Every man needs to assume David’s attitude: "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes” (Ps. 101:3).
ii. Such worldly filth is prohibited from Christians in these passages: Matthew 5:27-30; 6:22-23; 15:18-20; Ephesians 4:29; 5:3-4.
c. Some simply enjoy wickedness and foolishness of any kind. They are described here:
i. "Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool…” (Prov. 10:23a)
ii. "Folly is joy to him who lacks sense…” (Prov. 15:21)
iii. "As they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so I will choose their punishments and will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.” (Isa. 66:3-4)
2. The profit of godliness in the matter of entertainment is that a godly person will avoid trouble.
a. A godly person will preserve his pure heart and not be defiled by worldly entertainment. He will not incur the trouble or the punishment that comes with such things.
b. Notice Proverbs 2:11-14 – "Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things; from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil…”
c. Those who avoid evil entertainment will be blessed, for "happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves” (Rom. 14:22).
III. PERSECUTION FOR GODLINESS
A. In this series, we have considered the profit of godliness extensively, but let us also recognize that godliness can bring persecution and hardship.
1. As a matter of fact, Paul told Timothy, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2Tim. 3:12).
2. The persecution of the godly by the worldly is a result of the difference in their natures.
a. Notice John 15:18-19 –"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”
b. The world by nature hates godliness, for godliness is opposed to everything the world has to offer (1John 2:15-17).
3. It is not a contradiction to say that godliness brings both profit and persecution. It is possible and likely that godly people will have both. Ultimately, the profit far exceeds the persecution (see 2Cor. 4:17-18).
B. Whether we receive profit or persecution in this life, the lasting profit of godliness will be realized when this life is over.
1. The early churches were encouraged to continue in the faith when the apostles told them, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
2. Therefore, Christians must continue to conduct themselves in godliness as they anticipate the coming of the Lord and the end of this world. Notice 2Peter 3:11 – "Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?”
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Let us close our series with the same message we have read throughout this study: "…Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 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” (1Tim. 4:7-8).
B. Practice godliness in all that you do, and you will take hold of the profit and the promise of God for the present life and also for the one to come.