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

Some people would have you believe that godliness — living for God, being born again, walking in fellowship with the Lord — has no profit in this life. They think we must simply endure life with all its ups and downs, struggles and trials, always bearing in mind that “this life will soon be o’er.”

I’m glad Paul gave us a balanced viewpoint by saying that godliness is not only profitable “over yonder” in the next life, but it has promise of “. . . the life that now is . . . .”

As sinners, we were bankrupt, but God had mercy on us, and He sent Jesus to redeem us. Jesus came not only to save us from our sins — but to live within us (Col. 1:27). And Jesus wants us to bring as much glory to His Name, and to pay as rich dividends to Him as possible in this life. Instead of saying that godliness is a hindrance to success, the Apostle Paul says the exact opposite in our text scripture.

It doesn’t cost to serve God — it pays!

Confession: I live a godly life. I am born again. I live for God. I walk in fellowship with the Lord. This is profitable for me — here on earth in the life that now is, and also in the life which is to come!