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| Volume 20 Number 11 November 2018 | Page 13 |
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| Volume 20 Number 11 November 2018 | Page 13 |
Therman Hodge
The word “godliness” comes from the Greek word eusebeia and it means “a proper religious attitude of respect, reverence and devotion toward God, parents or one’s fellow man.” Its main use pertains to the reverent fear at the superiority and holiness of Almighty God and His worship that results in a careful obedience and loyalty to His Word. Eusebeia gives God the right place in one’s mind. It provides for worship and service before God in the right way.
Patience (perseverance) also leads to a humble reverence and a deep respect toward God. Patience is interrelated to godliness, which by itself is such a powerful word. We must with all diligence, in our patience, add godliness (2 Peter 1:5-6) to our Christian character.
Proverbs 1:7 gives us the basic idea of godliness. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction” (NKJV). Eusebeia is basically the right attitude toward God—the attitude of reverence, superiority, worship and obedience. To please God, we must embrace the meaning of this important word. That will lead to a complete, continual and cheerful obedience of God’s commands.
Christians are encouraged by Scripture to practice godliness. We are to lead a quiet life in all godliness (1 Timothy 2:2). Women are to profess godliness (1 Timothy 2:10). Great is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16). Christians are to exercise themselves in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). Godliness is profitable to all things (1 Timothy 4:8). Christian doctrine is according to godliness (1 Timothy 6:3). Godliness with contentment is gain (1 Timothy 6:5-6). We are to follow after godliness (1 Timothy 6:11). Some have a force of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5). Pursing the truth results in godliness (Titus 1:1).
Godliness is the product of the life lived in view of eternity (2 Peter 3:9-13). Peter urged upon us all holy living and godliness as we consider a world that is going to be destroyed in fervent heat at the coming of Christ and the Day of God.
A Fair Test
Aaron Cozort
The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, gave an order. He appointed a daily portion of his wine and delicacies to be given to certain young men who were in training for positions in his government as wise men and leaders. Yet, four of the young men could not accept the allotments.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were from Jerusalem. These four were among the best young men in Judah. When the Babylonian king besieged Judah, He carried them and many others like them back to Babylon to train for his courts.
Daniel and his friends knew that the appointed food would be delicious to eat. They also knew what God had spoken through Moses to their ancestors. They could neither taste these delicacies nor drink this intoxicating wine. Doing so would make them unclean before God and cause them to sin against His commands.
They requested an alternative for themselves. Daniel petitioned the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. The petition was met with hesitancy by the head of the eunuchs. Why should he endanger his life so that Daniel might do this?
Daniel sought an alternative. Daniel 1:12-13 reads, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”
The test was approved. “And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies” (Daniel 1:15). God blessed Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael for their faithfulness. Upon examination by the King, they surpassed all his magicians and astrologers in wisdom and understanding.
There are a few lessons here for us today. When we are faced with a choice to do good or evil, we ought always to choose the good. After we decide to do good, we must not back down from that choice when unbelievers stand in our way. Finally, when we choose the right action and persevere, we should prepare ourselves for God’s blessings and give thanks to the One who cares for us.