August 26, 2026 | Be Connected
The Value of Godliness
Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-10(NIV)
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
Devotional
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Feed a cold, starve a fever.
Coffee stunts your growth.
These are common “old wives’ tales” that we today know are not true. This passage may be one of the earliest mentions of old wives’ tales. But what were the old wives’ tales mentioned in Biblical times? They were most likely superstitions. Biblical times were full of superstitions. Their superstitions included idol worship and divination.
2 Kings 21:6 speaks of fortune telling and omens. Isaiah 2:6 indicates that God has rejected the house of Jacob because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers of Philistines.
These superstitions and old wives’ tales open the door for the devil to grab ahold of us and lead of astray from God. They prey on our humanity.
Paul also speaks of physical training. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, the Bible calls our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit. God requires us to take care of our bodies, as it is where the Holy Spirit dwells.
However, more important than staying physically fit is to be godly. I love verse 8 that says “Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” This sentence holds great power. Not only do we have the power of God in our present, we have the power of God in the future. We can lead the way to not only current believers but those who have yet to believe. Our potential future is a gift.
My family is one of walkers and runners. We take a walk or run at least once, often twice a day. This keeps us fit and, more often than not, it gives us time to reflect, pray and be quiet. It gives us a chance to strive for godliness. It is in these times of labor and strife we can achieve godliness and put our hope in the living God for all.
How can you carve time in your day to be quiet and labor to achieve godliness?
