Godly

We’re studying a short series on some of the qualities men and women who are helpers in the ministry must have.  First, they should be faithful.  Second, they should be godly.  To serve the Lord effectually in a local church, you must have a good walk with the Lord.  You are ministering spiritual things to people.

Titus 2:12-14 says, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”.  This is in the context of purified, peculiar people who are zealous of good works.

We live in an ungodly, evil world.  And the people we minister to live in this same godless world.  When they come to church, God’s presence should be evident and God’s servants should be ready to help them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Our church and our workers should not be worldly, but godly.

The last thing people need is make-believe saints.  2 Tim 3:5 says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away”.  There are plenty of powerless Christians in churches who can only reproduce hypocrites like themselves.  Paul said to turn away from them.  It’s the godly Christians whom God uses to reproduce godly saints.

Godly saints have a genuine relationship with the Lord.  God knows it and so do they.  Ps 4:3 says, “The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him”.  They are set apart by the Lord and they have an effectual prayer life.  These are Christians that can minister to others.

One of the reasons more Christians are not as concerned about godliness as they should be is that they know godliness makes them stand out in the world.  And since the world hates Jesus, the world will hate them, too.  2 Tim 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”.  They don’t want this.

You shouldn’t let the world’s attitude stop you from being a godly Christian.  1 Tim 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain”.  Not only will you be well rewarded in eternity, you will have great gain here, as well, when you are content with God.