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 4:8
How little is little?If say your child will say I took a little from your money, and you are a billionaire; how much would little mean? But if you were a pauper, how little would that mean?So we see that words can have quite a different meaning depending on the circumstances and factors surrounding such a spoken word.
In this as a backgrounder, the word “little” here should be interpreted in context with the whole thoughts of the verses.Focusing on exercise alone, its benefits seems quite much, but when compared with the benefits of godliness, the benefits of exercise is indeed little.The benefits of exercise, health & which in turn can add to your physical attractiveness, longevity, endurance-all in the physical realm which through time and using will pass away. But godliness benefits concerns both the physical and spiritual things-meaning exercise & diet is included with the spiritual things given the more weight in such pursuits (see 2 Corinthian 7:1,1 Corinthian 2:14 Leviticus 11 and Matthew 4:4 for example).
In this as a backgrounder, the word “little” here should be interpreted in context with the whole thoughts of the verses.Focusing on exercise alone, its benefits seems quite much, but when compared with the benefits of godliness, the benefits of exercise is indeed little.The benefits of exercise, health & which in turn can add to your physical attractiveness, longevity, endurance-all in the physical realm which through time and using will pass away. But godliness benefits concerns both the physical and spiritual things-meaning exercise & diet is included with the spiritual things given the more weight in such pursuits (see 2 Corinthian 7:1,1 Corinthian 2:14 Leviticus 11 and Matthew 4:4 for example).
Blinded people cannot see the difference between the two; nor are they aware that godliness concerns both the physical and the spiritual. They think that godliness is all spiritual which can lead to an imbalance view-which may cause one even his faith. I’ve seen this happen in our place…let me tell you the story of the foolish lawyer.
During the 1980’s when the gospel was beginning to be believe here, one of those who became a believer was a lawyer. He was so zealous in his belief in Jesus( but was quite ignorantly naive and a babe), so that when he read Bible verses:
During the 1980’s when the gospel was beginning to be believe here, one of those who became a believer was a lawyer. He was so zealous in his belief in Jesus( but was quite ignorantly naive and a babe), so that when he read Bible verses:
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Luke 11:41 But give what is inside [the dish] to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
When he read one or several of these verses, he indeed gave all that he have to the poor..becoming poor himself. And later with his poverty, hardship and the mockery he suffered for his “foolish” Christian Acts- he gave up his faith. He was offended with the Lord Jesus himself. He lose his faith! I do not know what happened to him after his debacle. so keep this little lessons in mind…a little folding of your hand…
Proverb 23:33-34 yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:So shall your poverty come like a robber; and your want like an armed man.
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