Exercise and Eat Right. 1 Timothy 4:8

American country music legend Willie Nelson says he’s done with smoking–both tobacco and marijuana. At 90, he’s decided to think more about his health. Of course, he’s been using karate to stay in shape for years.

Reaching his 90s at all is remarkable—particularly for a partying musician who has spent years on the road—eating rich, fatty, sugary, restaurant food, smoking too much, and sleeping on a tour bus.

But I wonder what God thinks about Willie’s fitness regimen?

And more importantly, what does God think about the millions of Americans who will go on diets this year, join gyms for a New Year’s Resolution, take up jogging, lift weights, go paleo or vegan, or maybe even commit to a Daniel Fast or the Daniel diet?

How do you think the Lord feels about these attempts to live healthier?

As Christians, we are commanded to be good stewards of our bodies (“for you are NOT your own” 1 Corinthians 6:19). God owns you, and you must take care of the body He loaned you so you can live a long and effective life, and spend more years pointing people to Jesus.

But what about the Willie Nelsons of the world? What does God have to say about our efforts at dieting and fitness?

I think He honors those efforts, at least the sensible ones, and that’s why they get good results.

“Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, for bodily discipline is of little profit, but GODLINESS is a means of great gain, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” 1 Timothy 4:8.

In other words, exercise and eating right are valuable, but nowhere near as valuable as godliness.

Consider the context. In the preceding verses 3-7, Paul speaks of men who forbid the eating of certain foods, and women who promote “worldly fables” about bodily disciplines—

But . . . discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, for bodily discipline is of little profit, but GODLINESS is a means of great gain, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Paul tells the young pastor to ignore those who encourage bodily disciplines, and to focus more on spiritual disciplines. Why? Because spiritual discipline will benefit you both with spiritual fitness on earth and with eternal rewards in heaven.

How much time do Americans spend on workouts? Millions of hours a year. How much money do they spend on diets? Billions of dollars a year.

Imagine if even half that energy was directed to spiritual disciplines like Bible reading and prayer? What would happen to this nation? For one thing, the health of many Americans would improve and they would probably lose weight. (Do you see why that is? If you are struggling with self-control and eating, for example, the spiritual discipline of learning God’s word may help you more than the bodily discipline of yo-yo dieting.)

More importantly, if the Americans who spend so much time and money on bodily disciplines would direct some of their energy toward spiritual disciplines, God would transform every area of their lives. He promises, “My word shall not return void,” (Isaiah 55:11) meaning EVERY time you study the Bible, He will bless you and the word will accomplish something in you.

Every. Single. Time.

So discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. If you spend ten minutes a day thinking about health and eating right and exercising, can you spend five minutes reading the Bible? If you spend twenty minutes a day working out, can you spend ten or twenty minutes reading the Bible? Of course you can. But will you?

God says don’t spend all your time on bodily discipline when spiritual discipline will pay off in ways that are so much more rewarding.

Dear God, teach us to eat right and exercise. Make us good stewards of our bodies in this modern world that would starve us with nutrient-deprived fast food and processed food, then fatten us on sugar-filled foods and syrupy soft drinks and marbleized steaks and fatty ground beef. And help us to be active in a world of jobs that require us to sit for ten hours a day.

But more importantly, remind us to work on spiritual disciplines, because godliness is a means of great gain. Help us to make Bible reading and prayer a part of every day. Show us verses to memorize. Teach us how to share our faith.

Give us a deep hunger for spiritual food—the meat of the word—rather than physical food. Amen.

ΑΩ

Have you ever been treated badly because you were young? 1 Timothy 4:12

Adults often look at youth and make assumptions. They dismiss you. They don’t take your problems seriously. They assume you are a whiner. And they don’t give you the benefit of the doubt. They assume you are lazy, or cheating, or selfish, or deceitful.

But what does the Bible say? You know the most popular verse on the subject: “Let no one despise your youth…” But it’s not that easy. How can you force adults to NOT look down on your youth? You can’t just forbid them.

But Paul offers a solution—a strategy. What he says is, ‘don’t ignore or tolerate people despising your youthfulness. Instead, prove them wrong.’ Consider the rest of the verse:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity” 1 Timothy 4:12.

Timothy was an adult at this point, a young pastor—this is not just a verse for teens.

Even young adults in their twenties face these challenges. But Paul says, ‘don’t just tolerate being mistreated for your age. Instead, live a life above reproach. Set the example in FIVE key areas.’

So when you suffer for your youthfulness, ask yourself: Am I setting the best possible example? Can my example actually lead these older adults in these five areas?

  • Is my speech cleaner than theirs?
  • Is my conduct more righteous, and more self-controlled?
  • Do I love better than they do? Do I forgive them well when they criticize and judge me? Am I more humble?
  • Do I have greater faith—and does my faith strengthen my walk with Christ every day?
  • Am I making pure choices? Not pure compared to the lost, but am I more pure than older, believing adults?

The point is, you should be setting the example—the highest example. Are you? Do you truly live a life above reproach, a life that cannot be questioned?

Here’s a goal—strive to live a life so pure that if your enemies started a rumor about you, everyone would just laugh and say, “Ha ha. There’s no way.” How many politicians and celebrities live like that? How many sports stars or TV preachers? Maybe not many. But you know people who do. There are people you know who would not cross the line. These people live lives above reproach. Join them.

Make it your goal to set an example in these five areas:

1. Speech

2. Conduct

3. Love

4. Faith

5. Purity.

THEN no one will be able to look down on you or despise you for your youthfulness.

Dear God, help us forgive those who treat us badly because of our age. Help us live lives so pure no one can question us. Help us to SET the standard—a higher standard. Make us an example to others, through clean, self-controlled speech, good conduct, deep, forgiving love, total faith in you, and a hunger and thirst for purity. Help us to welcome the challenge of setting the example. But at the same time, help us to be so focused on shining your light to the lost, that we become an example for adults without really focusing on becoming an example. Use us to reach even those who criticize us and judge us unfairly.

ΑΩ

LET’S KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING. 1 Timothy 4:1-2,7

Churches once had a slogan: keep the main thing the main thing. That means—Focus on Jesus. DO NOT be distracted by the little side issues that scream for your attention every day.

As one pastor puts it: “We don’t want to be Christians that jerk our heads around and yell, ‘Squirrel!’”[1]

What side issues are distracting Christians today:

  1. Politics, particularly the notion that the “OTHER” party is nothing but devil-worshipping monsters. (They’re not, you know.)
  2. Vaccines, masks, and COVID-19 topics.
  3. The Flat Earth, the “fake” moon landing, the theory that the US government planned the 9/11 attack, and dozens of other conspiracy theories that are gaining new followers every day.
  4. Yoga, “self-care,” “mindfulness,” incense, tattoos, and other topics long considered the secular equivalent of satan worship, but largely accepted today. It is wrong to assume everyone who participates is evil. It is also wrong to assume everyone who participates is not. The truth is complex, and the roots of some practices merit research. But KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING. Don’t get distracted.

I love to sink my teeth into a good controversy—you know that. But lately everywhere I look in scripture I am told not to!

“Instruct people not to … pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote speculations rather than God’s plan…. Some have deviated … and turned aside to FRUITLESS DISCUSSION.” 1 Timothy 1:3-4,6.

“In the last times, men will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared…. But have NOTHING TO DO WITH IRREVERENT AND SILLY MYTHS” 1 Timothy 4:1-2,7.

So what do we do?

“But you, man of God, RUN FROM THESE THINGS, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith” 1 Timothy 6:11-12.

KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING: JESUS.

ΑΩ

[1] Shawn Thornton, Calvary Community Church, Westlake Village, California.

YOUR THOUGHTS MATTER AS MUCH AS YOUR ACTIONS. 1 Timothy 6:4.

No one understood grace the way Paul did. Yet no one demanded good behavior the way Paul did.*

But Paul is not merely concerned with behavior. He knows that not only are there all sorts of temptations in your path, there are also wrong ideas and controversies that may draw your focus off of Jesus.

Perhaps even more than he warns readers of the sins of the body, Paul warns of the distractions of the mind.

Paul is concerned about your ACTIONS. Paul is equally concerned about YOUR THOUGHTS.

Look at these verses in which Paul encourages us to be careful what we think about:

“Avoid the “sick interest in disputes and arguments over words” 1 Timothy 6:4.

“Do not pay attention to myths and endless genealogies” 1 Timothy 1:4.

“Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness but expose them” Ephesians 5:11.

“Have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths” 1 Timothy 4:7.

“Be careful no one takes you captive through philosophy and deceit” Colossians 2:8.

“Do not worry” Philippians 4:6

“Watch out for those who cause dissensions” Romans 16:17.

“I want you to be wise about good, but innocent about evil” Romans 16:19.

“Avoid foolish debates” Titus 3:9.

“Reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing they breed quarrels” 2 Timothy 2:23.

“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong” 1 Corinthians 16:13.

“We take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

We understand the risks of wrong actions: cheating, gluttony, laziness, adultery.

Yet most of us ignore the risks of wrong thoughts.

Bad thinking may not be a sin in every case, but the Bible frequently condemns it as foolishness. And foolishness is Paul’s concern: he knows that when we spend our time thinking about foolishness, we will be drawn away from Christ.

But what is foolishness? How do you know it when you see it?

First, foolishness is anything that distracts you from Biblical truth.

If your obsession with some controversial political cause is taking up so much of your time that you no longer read the Bible, then that obsession is probably foolishness; even if it is not wrong, perhaps it is a wrong use of your time at the present.

A second rule is that foolish thoughts question the word of God.

For this reason, worry is often foolish: because worry causes you to doubt God’s provision and protection. In addition to worry, many topics can cause people to doubt the Bible. Books by history’s atheists and famous skeptics come to mind. Second might be controversies and conspiracy theories that leave you doubting everything you ever believed. (If this crazy idea has you questioning God, your faith, your parents, and your salvation, it is probably foolish.)

Third, foolish thoughts may be motivated by a “sick interest in disputes and arguments” 1 Timothy 6:4.

Are you more interested in the back-and-forth of the argument than you are in finding the truth? Are you hyped-up and on-edge all day and all night, trolling the internet looking for that next argument or debate? Or do you put your head down at night and sleep in peace? Contentment in Christ, motivated by true faith, will be able to find peace even when an answer to the controversy of the day does not appear. But if you are enjoying the dispute more than finding a true answer, you will never be content. True answers have a way of being deceptively quiet and simple. There is peace, but often little fanfare. By contrast, false ideas are as exciting as a bomb going off. And that’s another clue that you have gone astray: if you find yourself unwilling to accept a simple answer, the still, small voice, and are desperately searching for a tornado and an earthquake, then the controversy is probably based on foolish thoughts. “God is not a god of confusion, but of peace” 1 Corinthians 14:33.

A fourth sign of foolish, dangerous thinking is whether it is almost sinfully enticing.

Sometimes an intriguing, sinful question can draw you in like a moth to the flame. If the argument holds an almost sinful allure, if it drew you in with a power you could not resist, that may be a red flag, a sign of evil. Paul encourages us to be “innocent” in these “works of darkness” that can “take you captive.” The conversation, the debate you are having, may seem innocent enough to you. After all, it’s only words, right? Well, no. These are ideas, and ideas have consequences. You can be drawn into foolish ideas and suffer “the shipwreck of your faith” 1 Timothy 1:18-20. What you think about matters. Your thoughts matter.  How do you guard your thoughts? You watch out for wrong thinking, and you stand on your faith, strong in the word.

“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong” 1 Corinthians 16:13.

You must examine your thoughts. THINK about them. And evaluate them in light of the scripture. Are these godly thoughts? Are my thoughts OBEDIENT to Christ?

“We take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

God, remind us—WARN US—to stay away from wrong, foolish thinking.

ΑΩ

P.S. I write about Paul’s passion for grace and his equal passion for good behavior (or following the law) here: https://dadsdailydevotionals.com/2024/08/21/is-there-tension-between-law-and-grace-titus-214/

AVOID FOOLISH DEBATES. Titus 3:9

I love a good debate. We could talk for hours about law and grace, or about predestination and free will. We could spend the weekend debating all the ways God demonstrates His sovereignty over things that seem totally random and absurd. Or we could while away the hours expressing gratitude for the infinite mercies He shows us in the weather, in nature, in our day-to-day lives, and on and on.

There are so many ways to build one another up and have great fellowship with other believers.

But there are also so many ways to have conversations that tear people down, that take us into dark places and ungodly subjects. Discuss crime if you must, even murder and war. But monitor the tone of the discussion: are we hopeful? Are we trusting in God? Or have we forgotten that He is on the throne?

Lost people can so easily draw us into their world. We live there. We are entertained there. We KNOW those stories. We watch their movies, read their books, binge their shows. We are accustomed to their world, and it is a world where God is absent, or if He exists, He never gets involved. We know that mindset. Like a football player snapping on his helmet, we can lock our heads right into that worldview.

But WHY?

Paul writes:

“But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless” Titus 3:9

These words tell me to stop talking about politics. Not just politics, but inflation, COVID, the vaccine “debates,” the numerous conspiracy theories being advanced by Republicans and Democrats alike, rumors and allegations of all kinds. And I’m not saying those things are not real—there may be valid points on all sides. But the debates are “UNPROFITABLE AND WORTHLESS.”

God, give us the wisdom to stop talking. To just be quiet and AVOID FOOLISH DEBATES. Focus our minds on You and all the great things You are doing in the world today!

ΑΩ
*I took the above photo at Lake Buchanan, August 18, 2020.

“Gird up the loins of your mind. Be sober” 1 Peter 1:13.

“Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good” 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

SOCIAL MEDIA. Titus 3:8-10.

Each of us could list ten convincing reasons to avoid social media. But social media also provides opportunities to share love, hope, joy, and the light of Christ. Still, even with the best of intentions, how often do we open Facebook or another platform and turn around and discover we just wasted an hour and filled our minds with anxiety, controversy and temptations? We must be VIGILANT.

During these days of never-ending political strife, we must protect our own peace of mind. Consider Paul’s advice from 2,000 years ago:

“Engage in good deeds. These are good and beneficial for people. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the law, for they are useless and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning” Titus 3:8-10.

Do your good deeds. Be an encourager on social media. Make it your goal to share hope, to bless others, to be someone who brings others joy and peace, not bitterness and strife. Look for bits of humor and hope that you can share. Type out the best thing you heard in a sermon or a song lyric. Share a meme or GIF that makes you laugh or lifts someone’s spirit.

And when you see controversy, scroll on past it. You don’t have to comment. You do not have to engage. You can ignore the politics. Of course, you have opinions. But you do not have speak up—and it’s almost entirely worthless on political subjects anyway. As Paul says, “avoid foolish controversies … and disputes… for they are useless.”

There is no value in an online argument. You will convince no one.

Instead: share HOPE.

When we are online, let it be our goal to “ENGAGE IN GOOD DEEDS.” May God use us to bless others, both in-person and online.

ΑΩ

Jesus said the end times would be characterized not only by “wars and rumors of wars,” by earthquakes and famines and the beginning of the birth pangs, but by DECEPTION. “Take heed that no one misleads you” Matthew 24:4. I have never seen such a chorus of misleading voices. Between anti-intellectualism, social media, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Fakes, incompetent Influencers, the predatory wellness movement, biased reporting masquerading as journalism, the ignorance of expertise, plagiarism and other factors decimating scholarship and the peer-review process, the rise of false religions, cults, and new age spirituality, I am more inclined to call ours the end times than ever before.

READ THE EPISTLES. Titus 2:2-8.

When I read the Bible as a college student I gravitated toward the epistles—the letters to other believers. Others my age had different favorites. One young lady I knew loved the Old Testament for its amazing histories. Some loved Proverbs because you can always find one or two nuggets to think about the rest of the day. And there are those who read the Gospels on repeat. Some read only the red letters—the words of Jesus—over and over.

But the epistles—the letters—are so deep and so practical. Paul wrote most of them, but James, Peter, John, and Jude also authored letters. Each contains some deep content, often New Testament doctrine unknown until the resurrection, but each also contains practical tips on living. Tips covering every aspect of church life, family life, education, work habits, behavior, language, eating and drinking, and more. Anytime you are looking for something to read or something to use in a Bible study, I would encourage you to read some of the epistles. You will ALWAYS find some great meat.

Consider these tips that apply to our whole family:

“OLDER MEN are to be level-headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. In the same way, OLDER WOMEN are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so they may encourage the YOUNG WOMEN to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered. In the same way, encourage the YOUNG MEN to be self-controlled in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. Your message is to be sound beyond reproach…” Titus 2:2-8

Dear God, teach us to live lives that honor You, to make good choices day-in and day-out, even—and ESPECIALLY—when no one is watching. May we live lives of the highest integrity and honor You in all things. May we read Your word effectively.

ΑΩ

GOD’S DESIGN FOR MANHOOD. Titus 1:6-9; 2:2.

What does God expect of us? In the year 2000, with a pandemic raging and people rioting across the nation, more than one of my friends said “this is a time for action,” by which they meant violence.

I disagreed. When I need to understand culture and current events, I ask myself a pair of questions: what would my father or grandfather think? What would the deacons I know think? These are the two wisest men/groups of men I’ve ever known. I want to think and act wisely also.

Paul sends Titus to appoint elders to serve as pastors and deacons. Paul tells Timothy the traits to look for while selecting men to fill these critical roles:

Appoint “one who is blameless, the husband of one wife [and not divorced], having faithful children that are not accused of wildness or rebellion. For an overseer, as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it…. Older men are to be levelheaded, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance” Titus 1:6-9; 2:2.

What kind of men does God choose? Violent men? Men who embrace strange ideas and conspiracies? No.

God is EXTREMELY CHOOSY about church leaders.

(Did you notice the behavior of the man’s children is actually a consideration? Why do you think that is?)

God is looking for men (and women!) who are blameless, faithful, humble, patient, generous, loving what is good, AND committed to the message as taught…. Do you have those traits? Do I?

Finally, consider these traits when you encounter social media. Stop fighting. Be patient, be quiet, or just put the phone down and stop filling your mind with evil and strife. Be sensible in your reaction to social media and current events.

Ask yourself WWWMD: what would wise men do?

ΑΩ

WHAT IF YOU WERE THE BOSS? Titus 1:5-9.

Imagine: you have advanced in your career to a place of responsibility. You have a budget and need to do some hiring. Who will it be? How do you choose between applicants? Imagine that you have scheduled interviews with a dozen candidates—and let’s pretend all twelve are people you know today. Can you picture 12 in your mind right now? Friends, enemies, classmates, roommates, teammates? Let’s imagine further that each is qualified. How will you choose?

Paul gives advice to Titus that may prove useful. He provides traits to look for in elders—a list churches have long applied to pastors and deacons:

“I directed you to appoint elders in every town: each must be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. For an overseer, as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it” Titus 1:5-9.

You could make a checklist:

  1. Blameless
  2. Not divorced
  3. Good children
  4. Humble
  5. Patient
  6. No addictions
  7. Not a bully
  8. Not greedy, but hospitable
  9. Loves what is good
  10. Sensible
  11. Righteous
  12. Holy
  13. Self-controlled
  14. Faithful to scripture
  15. Able to teach right doctrine and refute heresy.

Wow. That’s a tall order! And few managers can be that choosy in the hiring process—but again, this list is for pastors, elders, and deacons.

But this is also a great list of personal goals. Do I have all 15 traits? Do you? Or will you someday?

We should make it our ambition to master ALL of these.

God needs reliable people on His team, hard workers to whom He can entrust great responsibility.

ΑΩ