Isa. 66:1-6; 1 Tim. 6:6-21; Mark 12:35-44
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
... people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Tim. 6:4-8)
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (v. 11)
More on "godliness" today - Paul uses the word four times in the last chapter of this letter to Timothy. He links it with contentment, saying there is great gain in godliness with contentment; and he says to pursue it, along with righteousness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness.
I missed this reference to it back in chapter 2: Paul says to pray especially for those in authority, "that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (v. 2)
I am looking forward to studying this more, but my books are in Daphne. But a few reflections...
We think of godliness as the state of being godly, of being like God - of course not in appearance only, a kind of self-righteous separation or aloofness or arrogance (classic Pharisaism) but in Christ-likeness. In word, and deed, and manner, and action, and attitude, we are becoming like Jesus - so that he is manifest through my life and the church's life. But what I've been learning here is that godliness (or piety or religion) is also the means to the "state." Godliness is a way to order one's life that it may become a godly life.
Praying, Bible reading, fasting, giving, doing good deeds... can be and ought to be part of the ordering. And when attended with contentment, when we train ourselves in it and pursue it as one of the highest Christian virtues, there is great gain in it.
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