Godliness is Fundamental

One Sunday on their way home from worship services, little Ella turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.”

“Oh, why is that?” the mother asked.

“Well,” replied Ella, “He said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?”

“Yes, Ella, that’s right.”

“But he also said that God lives in us. Is that true, Mommy?”

“Yes, dear, that’s true,” replied her mother.

“Well,” said Ella, “if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”

Ella’s right. And the Bible calls that godliness. It has to do with reverence. Piety. Holiness. And God-likeness.

Emma’s right. The apostle Peter said so as he enumerated the virtues that ought to be added to our faith in 2 Peter 1:5-7.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

What is Godliness?

William Barclay says that the original word for godliness “is the nearest Greek word for religion; and when we begin to define it, we see the intensely practical character of the Christian religion. When a man becomes a Christian, he acknowledges a double duty, to God and to his fellow men.”

“Godliness,” writes Warren Wiersbe, “has to do with practical piety.” He says that it involves both character and conduct. Godliness, thus, is reflected not only in what we do, but in who we actually are.

Gary Henry, in his Daybook Series, More Enthusiastic Ideas, expressed it this way. “Godliness will certainly show up outwardly, but it’s primarily an inward matter, a matter of the heart. Godliness means seeing all worldly things from a godly perspective.”

Applications of Godliness

“The key to godliness is not more knowledge,” opined Woodrow Knoll, “but more obedience.” Indeed, godliness issues itself in following Jesus, daily bearing His cross, and willingly submitting to His commands (Lk. 9:23). Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn 14:15). The beloved John further amplified that fact when he wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn. 5:3).

#1 Godliness is heard in speaking “wholesome words” (1 Tim. 6:3-4).

This text is not talking about cursing or swearing, but “wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness.” Wholesome words are sound words. Healthful words. It speaks to our attitude toward God and our reverence and respect for His revelation. Distorting the doctrine of Christ to fit one’s own opinion is not only unwholesome, but also ungodly.

#2 Godliness is witnessed by our attitude toward money.

Paul says that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Tim. 6:5). Greed coupled with an inordinate desire for riches is harmful and hurtful. Paul’s observation still holds true today. The lure of wealth at any price has ensnared people into “foolish and harmful lusts.”

Money itself is not evil. Nor does the attainment of success automatically result in ungodliness. But improper priorities, corrupt motives, and selfish indulgences will lead us away from the Lord and leave us spiritually bankrupt.

#3 Godliness is seen in the way women dress.

Paul says there is a type of attire that is “modest” and “proper for women who profess godliness” (1 Tim. 2:8-10). This implies that some dress must be deemed as immodest and improper for a godly woman. While we’re not addressing the specifics in this short piece, Christians ought to give serious consideration to this issue. It’s not something to brushed off and taken lightly. What you wear is a reflection of your heart and your character.

#4 Godliness is demonstrated in everything we do in life.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,”(Tit. 2:11-12).

Godliness manifests itself in the movies we watch, the books we read, and the internet sites we visit. Our choices of entertainment, the friends we associate with, and the nature of our relationships all reflect either an attitude of godliness or ungodliness.

Jerry Bridges expressed the reality of our lifestyle when he wrote, “Every day that we’re not practicing godliness, we’re being conformed to the world of ungodliness around us.” Godliness is a daily pursuit. In fact, it ultimately becomes not so much something you do, but the way you are.

Is it fair to ask, how big is your God? Is He living in you? Is He showing through?

–Ken Weliever