1 Timothy 4 "Instructions for Timothy"

In this chapter Paul writes instructions for Timothy as a person and also things he should tell others, most of which are the same.  It can be assume based on what Paul says that Timothy is relatively young. I am going to ask my Pastor how young he was.  What stood out to me though was verses 7 and 8.

⁷ Don't have anything to do with godless stories and silly tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. ⁸ Training the body has some value. But being godly has value in every way. It promises help for the life you are now living and the life to come.

This is something I have come to realize myself.  It is ok to add rules for yourself and set boundaries but we can't truely be Godly unless we change ourselves and train our minds and spirit to be Godly.  The world tries to be better by making more and more rules changing the outside (the body) not the mind or spirit.  It is harder to do but I have found after only a little time that the rules are as neccessary if you have your mind and spirit are trained.  Temptations to do evil things almost completely disappear and all it takes it to stay fit, the weight is off all you have to do now is watch it and make sure you don't put it on again.