'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.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
For
therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the
living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that
believe.'
1 Timothy 4:7-10 KJV
(*emphasis mine)
I
am not quite sure what we mean when we use expressions like 'my
spiritual life', 'my financial destiny', 'my social status' and so on.
I
ask myself, is this an attempt - subconscious or otherwise, to
compartmentalize our lives into control areas or territories, to which
we permit various levels of influence of the word of God?
Perhaps
I perceive wrongly but I am sure that these delineations do not exist
from God's perspective. For Him, our lives are one whole, complete
sacrifice unto Him. He desires we love and serve Him with the totality
of our hearts, minds, souls and strength.
I am also
certain that the Scriptures are profitable for reproof, doctrine,
correction and instruction in righteousness (doing the right thing
always, consistently, uncompromisingly; manifesting the divine nature of
God), that the believer may be complete, lacking nothing, prepared unto
EVERY good work.
The fear of the Lord is wisdom...for
ALL
life situations and circumstances, and the proof of our understanding
of the ways of God is to depart from iniquity including all forms of
selfishness, financial duplicity, sexual immorality, inconsiderate
behaviour, examination malpractice, dangerous driving, indiscriminate
waste disposal, lateness to appointments etc.
Instruction in the ways of God is profitable for
EVERY moment of our lives on earth and for eternity. God has given us
ALL things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus.
God
is just as interested in teaching us to love our neighbours as He is
intensely desirous that we love Him. Our conduct, values, choices in all
that we will be ever involved in - business, education, sport, leisure -
are still dependent on learning and imbibing the ways of God, and
manifesting His nature.
He is just as interested in
grooming in us a sense of responsibility for the welfare of the physical
environment in which He has placed us, as well as the need for proper
diets and exercise routines.
He is just as concerned about
our financial integrity when we transact business, hating false weights
and measures; as He is about us treating everyone fairly, following His
example.
Living life with the character and perspective
of God causes us to excel in character and conduct wherever He leads us
and in whatever sphere of influence He gives us with men.
We
are admonished to be examples of believers in our word, conversation,
charity, spirit, faith, purity. We excel in life by aspiring to the
higher standards of God, which encompass and overwhelm any moral
standards that the world can conceive, recognize or practice.
We
are righteous, first by nature, and this nature manifests outwards too.
We don't pretend to do the right thing to 'fulfil all righteousness'.
We do it because that is our natural, default disposition....IF INDEED
we are risen with Christ. Righteousness is not an act to prove a point,
it is the heart of the matter.
As someone put in a song,
daily as I live, as often as I breathe, may my WHOLE life be an expression of your grace. Amen
