DIGGING DEEP NO: 1084 – May 20, 2025 LIVING WITH PURPOSE  1TIMOTHY 5:6

“But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.” — 1 Timothy 5:6 NKJV

We live in a time where the pursuit of pleasure is not only encouraged but glorified. Social media, advertising, and modern culture constantly promote a message: “Live for yourself. Do what makes you happy.” While enjoyment and rest have their place in a healthy, God-honoring life, Paul offers a sobering warning in 1 Timothy 5:6. He tells Timothy that a person who “lives in pleasure” is “dead while she lives.”

This is a striking contradiction, being alive yet spiritually dead. Paul is not speaking of physical death, but a spiritual state of lifelessness that results from a lifestyle dominated by selfish indulgence and disconnected from God. The verse comes in a passage addressing the proper conduct and character of widows who are to be supported by the church. Yet the principle is timeless and broadly applicable: a lifestyle centered on pleasure rather than purpose, indulgence rather than devotion, is a dangerous path that leads to spiritual ruin.

As believers, we are called to live differently, not in self-denial for the sake of guilt or legalism, but in pursuit of a higher purpose that leads to true life in Christ. This study aims to help us evaluate our personal lifestyle in light of God’s Word and re-align our hearts toward a life of spiritual vitality and godly impact.

1. Purposeful Living

A lifestyle lived for God’s glory has intention and focus. It is not driven by momentary feelings or personal pleasure, but by a desire to reflect Christ and fulfill God’s purposes.

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Living with purpose means offering our entire lives to God as an act of worship. Abel offers a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. `

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Paul shows that his life is entirely dedicated to serving Christ — this is purposeful living.

Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men for you serve the Lord Christ.”

Every action, no matter how small, can have eternal significance when done for God.

2. Self-Control and Sobriety

The Christian life involves resisting the pull of the flesh and cultivating spiritual alertness. Daniel is a man in scripture who made great sacrifice to live a life of self-control and sobriety. Daniel 1:8. He understands the dangers of being at ease. Pleasure isn’t sinful in itself, but when it becomes the focus, it undermines discipline.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is… self-control. Against such there is no law.”

The Holy Spirit cultivates self-control. A safeguard against spiritual decay. A person without self-control in proverbs is described as a city without walls. This person is vulnerable and unprotected

Titus 2:11-12  “For the grace of God… teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

Grace doesn’t give us freedom to indulge — it teaches us how to live rightly.

1 Peter 5:8

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Spiritual alertness protects us from falling into traps of indulgence and spiritual slumber.

3. Devotion and PrayerfulnessA spiritually alive person is one who communes with God regularly. Prayer, dependence on God, and a lifestyle of worship characterize someone who is truly “alive” in Christ.

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Mark 6:46–47 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

Luke 5:15–16 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 9:18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, whom say the people that I am?

Luke 22:41–42 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.

Clearly, we see so many different examples of devotional and prayer time in the Bible. our greatest example comes from Jesus. He did not hesitate to spend time alone in prayer with His Father. He often isolated Himself so that He could give God His undivided attention. Like Jesus, sometimes we just need to “withdraw” ourselves for some quiet time with God.

Luke 10:42 “But one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Mary prioritized intimacy with Jesus over distractions — a model of devoted living.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

A continual posture of prayer keeps us spiritually connected and alert.

Colossians 4:2 “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”

Devotion in prayer is a mark of a life lived in step with the Spirit.

4. Generosity and Service

The Bible has a lot to say about generosity and service as a desirable character trait. Proverbs 22:9 says, “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” God is generous, and He expects us to follow His example.

And as we see God being generous, we are to be generous. Generosity can be manifested in many ways. We can give of our time, our material resources, our hospitality, and our friendship. The Bible teaches the general principle that those who are generous will find favor: “One person gives freely yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell” Proverbs 11:24–26. God’s Word is clear that the generous are remembered and rewarded, whether in this life or the next.

Those who are spiritually alive are not consumers of pleasure but givers of grace. Their lives are marked by love, service, and building up others in Christ.

Matthew 20:28 “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus modeled a life of sacrificial service — the opposite of self-indulgence.

James 2:17 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

A genuine life of faith expresses itself through tangible acts of love and service.

Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love… in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

God values and remembers a life lived in service to others.

In Conclusion:

Living “in pleasure” as defined by the world might feel satisfying for a moment, but Paul reminds us that it leads to spiritual deadness. By contrast, a life devoted to Christ — full of purpose, self-control, prayer, and service — is a life that truly lives.

Questions to ask yourself:

What dominates my schedule — comfort or calling?

Is my lifestyle drawing me closer to God or lulling me into spiritual complacency?

What needs to change for me to be fully “alive” in Christ?