1 Timothy 4:6-10
I love football. As a 7th grader I had to convince my mother that I would be safe playing football. As I learned the sport, trained hard and practiced the plays I found that I really enjoyed the game and wanted to play more. The problem I ran into was that I was small for the position I wanted to play. I did the only thing that I knew would help, I lifted weights. I love lifting weights. I found I was a much better weightlifter than I was football player, but the lifting made me a better football player. As I got older, playing football turned into coaching football, and weightlifting turned into amateur then professional powerlifting and finally into recovery lifting.
When I was in college a professor was trying to make the case that I shouldn’t spend all my time lifting and playing football, by quoting 1 Timothy 4:8 to me in front of the whole class; “8 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.” He stated that we should stop chasing bodily discipline because it was of little value to the follower of Christ, but the pursuit of Godliness was profitable in all things. I was feeling my oats and pointed out to him that even though it was of little value, it was still profitable. Needless to say, he didn’t take it well and I think I lost points for the day.
The context of the 1 Timothy 4 forces us to examine our personal growth in Christ and the question, “what do we put our faith in?” Are we trusting in traditions, myths, rumors, tik-taks, face-spaces or insta-grahm-crackers? Or are we putting our trust in Christ, His words and the doctrines He has given us? 1 Timothy 4:6-10 points out that we must discipline ourselves to better follow Jesus, learn from Him and put our hope fully on the living God.
6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 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.9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
We are called to be good servants of Christ, studying God’s word, setting aside fables and myths, disciplining ourselves for godliness putting our hope in the living God. This pursuit of God changes how we approach everything, we must be disciplined in our faith, not merely showing up, but diving deep into God’s word, fellowshipping with His followers, worshipping Him together and serving with love in every area of our lives.
My goal for football was to be a better player, I lifted to be a better player, I made sacrifices to be a better player, that discipline was of much value to me when I approached my spiritual life and growth. I had to discipline my mind and faith to conform to Christ, I have to spend time in the word, I have to pray, I have to set aside things that distract to pursue Christ. I do these actions not out of obligation or guilt, but out of love for my Savior. I want to know the one who gave His life to save me.