Godliness | 1 Timothy 6:1-12 | January 18, 2026
You may not have it:
Godliness
Only mentioned 11 times in all of scripture; 7 of the 11 times in Timothy (6/1)
1 Timothy 6:1-12
6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Paul tells us that we are to pray 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
We are to train ourselves to be godly.
We are to be in pursuit of God.
True godliness is a devotion to God.
Enoch – The father of Methuselah, who was the grandfather of Noah. (Genesis 5) A great example of Godliness.
Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
In Hebrews, it is said that Enoch pleased God.
Fear of God – A respect of who God is. Are you in awe of God?
Love of God – John 3:16, there is no greater love than this, that one lays down his life for his friends. God showed his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Desire for God, Blessed is he who hungers and thirsts after righteousness, for they will be filled.
Paul, 1 Corinthians 10:31 – 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Psalm 42: (Korah) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go meet with God?
Psalm 27 (David) 4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 63: 1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Jesus is the Living Water
John 4:14
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Paul said, I want to know Christ in the power of his resurrection.
Isaiah said, My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.
2 Peter 1:5-8 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:10 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
Godly living is a Christian pursuit of aligning one’s life with God’s will and character, focusing on love, obedience to Scripture, and spiritual growth through the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than striving for worldly satisfaction. It involves surrendering sinful desires, developing virtues like love and integrity, serving others, and honoring God through prayer, worship, and following Jesus’ example, even amidst imperfections.