Godliness Is Profitable Unto All Things
“Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”—1 Timothy 4:8
While under the law, we naturally think, for so much work, so much wages. God will be faithful to his word of promise, if we perform those terms and conditions he requires of us. Such are the notions of a legal spirit; they are the result of pride, they swell with a vain conceit of doing something to make God a debtor to our works; they are founded in ignorance, both of ourselves, and of the word of God’s rich grace and free promises; not one of which is made, absolutely, in respect to us, or to any thing we either believe or do; but only as we are in Christ Jesus, members of him, our blessed head. For ‘all the promises of God are in Christ Jesus yea and amen, unto the glory of God.’ 2 Cor. 1:20.
Every believer in Christ is a holy, godly soul; he is exhorted to be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. He has all cause for daily comfort and joy. He is fully assured of his interest in that blessed catalogue of mercies: ‘ministers, the world, life, death, things present, or things to come, all are yours.’ Why? Wherefore has he property herein? ‘Because ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.’ 1 Cor. 3:22, 23. Therefore he shall want nothing; he shall enjoy every thing he can will or desire, as a godly person. True godliness is profitable to bring the will into cheerful acquiescence with the will of God, and to enable the soul to say, Thy will be done. All the blessings of providence, all the riches of grace, all the glories of eternity, are secured by Jehovah’s promise to the godly in Christ Jesus.
Through the faith of Jesus, godly souls are profitable to their fellow-sinners, and fellow-members in him. Their good conversation, their holy walk, the Lord owns and blesses, to win others to the knowledge and love of God, to a hatred of sin, to renounce the vanities of the world, and to quit the slavery of Satan.
Oh Christian, remember thy calling, be careful of thy walk, watchful over thy conduct; see to it, lest Jesus be wounded in the house of his friends. Pray earnestly, and study daily that thy profiting in godliness may appear to all, to the glory of him who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Are you ambitious; are you covetous; do you love gain; are you earnestly desirous to enjoy it? Hear, believe, and rejoice. ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain.’ 1 Tim.6:6
Oh my Lord, how strange the grace
Which ungodly godly makes!
I hare found this matter true,
All the glory is thy due.
Now the promise is enjoyed,
Hope of greater is employed:
All is mine by gift of grace;
Make me long to see thy face.
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
