“For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 -> me: yesterday’s quiet time was on 1st Timothy 4:3-5. I didn’t send the write up for this because I plan to use it as a devotional that I’m going to send my life group. 🙂 Once that is out I will put it up on our website so that it can be read. In today’s reading, Paul spends time telling Timothy what it looks like to be a good minister of the word. Paul exhorts Timothy in how absolutely important it is that he calls out false teaching and to help brothers and sisters in Christ understand what this looks like. In fact, I read a commentary that says being good minister is like a shepherd who shoves stones under the hooves of their flock as they walk over treacherous ground. One of the things I love about Canyon Hills is that we follow Paul’s teaching in that the responsibility of teachers is to give positive answers to negative doctrines. Paul tells Timothy that he has been brought up in the truths of the faith; the words Paul chooses suggest a continual process. There is no better means of spiritual nourishment than a constant dwelling on the great truths of faith. False teaching is equated here with godless myths and wives’ tales. Old wive’s tales are those superstitions that hold no real truth or consequence…it is wasted time and energy devoting ones life to following them. The words used for ‘having nothing to do with’ are the same as Titus 3:10 and 2 Timothy 2:23. Finally we get to verse 8 where Paul tells us that even physical training has more benefit than believing myths or wive’s tales…but even this can not hold a candle to godliness. The practice and search for godliness reaps benefits for and wide…in both this life and eternal life.
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