Exercise Yourself to Godliness

But refuse profane and old wives' fables,

and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness.

For bodily exercise profiteth little:

but godliness is profitable unto all things,

having promise of the life that now is,

and of that which is to come.

1 Timothy 4:7,8

Notice that "...godliness is profitable...".

In order to get godliness, you have to refuse ungodliness.

1. Profanity and Old Wives Tales Are Ungodly

   1. Profanity

      v7 This verse uses the word, "profane." That made me think of profanity.

      Don't go out and look for things to think about, that have profanity in them. Don't spend your time on those things. Don't use profanity in your language.

      Don't let profane things be what you're exercised for. Don't even accept them. Profanity is ungodly. Refuse it.

   2. Old Wives Tales

      Verse 7 uses the phrase, "old wives fables," which makes me think of, "old wives' tales." There are a lot of old wives' tales about wellness, about getting rich, and even about godliness.

      Some say that you can get out of debt and make a lot of money without much hard work.

      There are outward practices, especially about the body. Old wives tales about "bodily exercise" are ungodly. Refuse those fables.

2. Refuse Fables and Bodily Exercise

   1. Fables

      Verse 7 says, "fables." Let's have a talk about fables.

      You could watch and talk about fables from movies. You could learn fables from preachers who preach fables instead of the truth.

      You could spread fables when you repeat what other people say. In order to be godly, beware of fables.

   2. Bodily Exercise

      v8 This verse mentions, "bodily exercise." An example of an old wives' tale, is,

      don't touch a frog or you'll get warts.

      That's an exercise of your body, to not touch a certain thing.

      Some old wives' tales say that certain products and practices will heal, strengthen, and improve your body.

      Some teach all different kinds of outward things that you have to do, or can't do, in order to please the Lord... But they're strange things that the Bible doesn't even teach!

      This verse says "bodily exercise profiteth little."

3. The Double Promise of Godliness

   Verse 7 says to, "...exercise thyself rather unto godliness." You can see that there's a reason to do that. Verse 8. This verse says, "...godliness is profitable unto all things..."

   1. A Promise For This Life Now

      Verse 8 says, "...having promise of the life that now is..." Remember this promise. Godliness does good in your life, for now, in this world. There's a reward.

   2. A Promise For The Life To Come.

      Verse 8 says, "...of that which is to come." The good that godliness will do isn't just a little. It will last forever.

In order to get godliness, you have to refuse ungodliness.