THE PROFIT OF GODLINESS

I TIMOTHY 4:8,9

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4:9 "a faithful saying" four of them.

1. I Timothy 1:15 - the foundation of our eternal salvation.

2. I Timothy 4:8,9 - the double blessing in time and eternity.

3. II Timothy 2:12,11 - our ultimate triumph.

4. Titus 3:8 - our life of dedicated service.

4:8

When Paul wrote, the great emphasis the Greeks placed upon physical culture, development of the body, proposition of limbs.

"Naked, bare." So "exercise," "training." Paul admits some profit, "toward a little," God, the reverential fear of the Lord, piety, godliness. "For everything" is profitable - not even limited by their life, but overleaps the grave; forever and now.

Christianity neither undervalues nor overvalues this life. Not sneer at it as though it were nothing; to be rid off…

Nor overvalue as though it the main object, prefer it to eternal life, give everything for this life but give nothing for God's love.

Christianity values both, but places this life in an honorable but secondary position.

Compare: Jesus in Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first…"

Compare: Paul in Romans 8;18 "For I reckon…this present life not worthy to be compared."

"Promise"

I.e., everything that comes to the Christian comes by, through, the promise of God's goodness, the divine faithfulness. Lives not the life of Ishmael, to be cast out, but the life of Isaac, the child of promise.

To the man who is not a Christian, the ungodly man, what comes to him comes overshadowed with judgment, death, the savor of death unto death.

Compare: Two men, one sitting in the death cell, awaiting execution, the other, a Christian, a free man, standing by his side. One under sentence of death, in death chamber awaiting death. The ungodly man condemned already - all his whole life - here nothing but a reprieve from a longsuffering God. But the Christian man pardon absolved, the life of God's own child - how different from the condemned man waiting execution, overshadowed with darkness, what comes but preparatory to the final exit; request for meal, drink, clothes, burial. But to the Christian:

Bread, emblem of his Father's care, daily provision.

Water, token of eternal life.

Clothing, the livery of heaven.

Sleep, beneath the canopy of God's protection.

Affliction, in world of tribulation, but be of good cheer.

Death? Not at all - a transformation.

I. PROFITABLE FOR THE LIFE THAT NOW IS

Have it now.

Compare: John 5:24 "hath"

1. The blessings it bestows now: quietness of heart.

a. The story I read somewhere: the executive businessman, in the financial world, living with his mother. An opportunity for great money, but shady. He asked her; her reply: "John, when morning hours comes and it is time for you to get up. I call, "John," no answer; "John," no answer; then I go upstairs, shake you, "John it is time for you to get up." I would hate to call you, John, and fine you staring, wide awake."

2. The blessings it bestows now; yieldedness to God's will.

If sick - and it pleases God?

If poor - and it pleases God?

If unknown - and it pleases God?

Compare: Paul - had nothing, worked with hands, but possessed no things.

Sentence of death in ourselves, thorn in flesh, but my grace sufficient.

No reputation, but highest fame, accepted, known to God.

Enriched when despoiled.

Gain by his losses.

Power by his sickness.

Live by dying.

3. The blessings it bestows now. The presence of God. In solitude - with Him. Never debarred from the society of the heavenly host. The divine love shining for him in supernatural splendor.

In death - living grace now.

Dying grace then.

"To depart, be with Christ, which is far better."

II. PROFITABLE FOR THE LIFE THAT IS TO COME

Another life beyond this fleeting existence.

Dimly guessed by the untaught heathen. None so degraded as not to believe.

More clearly outlined by the philosophers. Saw something in the man beyond the ox and the day; peered beyond the stream of death, thought they saw the shades of creatures once here.

The gospel of Christ brought life, immortality to light. But twofold:

1. To the Christian, sublimity, glory beyond, promised blessings.

2. To the ungodly, unbeliever, a world of terror, judgment.

The terrible loss of the ungodly man.

Learning, cleverness…in the grave.

Personal accomplishments - in a shroud.

Genealogies, kings rots as a slave.

Heirs devoured by swineherds.

Duke, earl, nobleman as peasant.

The infinite gain, blessings of the godly man.

Godliness has a monopoly of the blessings of the future life.

Where the man is black as coal.

Where the moon is seen no more.

Where the stars fall like figs.

Where the heavens are rolled back like a scroll.

God lives.

Christ lives.

God's children live, with Him.

The materialist.

Numbered with beasts of the field.

Enthusiast for annihilation - miserable prospect, extermination.

Earnest in proclaim his own wretchedness; dreary, wild, infidelity.

The religionist.

Pengatated fire or chills - tossed between icebergs and furnaces, so that in some unknown way, mechanical, sin burned out, frozen out, evaporated.