“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
1 Timothy 4:7&8
ESV
We are currently living in a time where it seems that nobody can agree about anything, conspiracy theories are popping up every day, and we are being bombarded by conflicting information. How many times have you hopped on Facebook for a brain break and fallen right into a rabbit hole of anxiety, offense, and confusion? How have you responded during these times? Do you find yourself getting lost in all of the different theories and worrying about the future? I believe that 1 Timothy 4:7&8 holds some great advice for us when it says:
“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
In this verse, Paul is speaking to his spiritual son, Timothy. Timothy is facing a lot of issues with the church that he has been sent to serve, and he warns Timothy not to get caught up in “irreverent, silly myths.” Another translation says it this way “godless old wives tales.” So what does this have to do with what we are facing today? Paul is basically warning Timothy not to get caught up in the things that don’t hold any eternal value. All of these conspiracies, differing opinions, and political battles are distractions from what really matters. What really holds hope and promise for our lives right now and for eternity? Godliness. Rather than practicing Facebook Live rants about our views on whether or not schools should open, we are to practice godliness. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have an opinion, or make the decision that you believe is best for your child. But it does mean that if your time on social media, scrolling through the news, and commenting on Facebook posts is causing you confusion, anxiety, and rage, then you are getting caught up in “irreverent, silly myths.” Godliness leads us to have grace on those whose opinions are different than our own. Godliness leads us to hope in our eternal life in Christ, not in our masks, our politicians, our school boards, or our freedoms. Godliness leads us to make decisions that considers others above ourselves and seeks to serve those who are hurting. How can you train yourself for godliness, and add more value to your life today?
My Prayer For You
Father, I thank you that our hope can only be found in you. You know the outcome of the coronavirus, the election, the hurricanes, the wildfires, and all of the division that exists in our world today, and You are working it all out for our good and Your Glory. Help us to give up our irreverent and silly myths, and cling to godliness. Show us what it means to train ourselves in godliness, and give us the desire to work it out. Amen.
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