1 Timothy 4:1-5: a reflection

1But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, 3forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 5For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

Paul warns Timothy about teachers who would forbid marriage and require abstaining from certain foods, imposing a false asceticism as if rejecting God's good gifts made one holier. Against this, Paul lays down a clear principle: everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. God's creation is good, given to be enjoyed with gratitude, not spurned.

Notice the twofold truth Paul affirms. First, God's creation is good, food, marriage, the ordinary gifts of life, are not obstacles to holiness but good gifts from a good God, meant to be received, not rejected. And second, the way we receive them rightly is with thanksgiving: nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. Gratitude sanctifies our enjoyment of God's gifts; received thankfully, and with prayer, the ordinary good things of life are hallowed.

That guards us against two errors. One is a false spirituality that thinks holiness lies in rejecting and despising God's good gifts, treating the enjoyment of creation as somehow unspiritual. Paul says no: God's gifts are good. The other is an ungrateful, thoughtless consumption that takes God's gifts without a thought of him. Paul's remedy is thanksgiving: receive God's good gifts gladly, but receive them with gratitude and prayer, which hallows them. Do not despise God's good creation, and do not consume it thanklessly. Receive it with thanksgiving, and let gratitude make your enjoyment holy.

Lord, everything you created is good, given to be received with thanksgiving, not rejected as if despising your gifts made me holier. Guard me from a false spirituality that spurns your good gifts, and from a thankless consuming that takes them without a thought of you. Help me receive your good creation gladly and gratefully, hallowing it with thanksgiving and prayer. Thank you for the ordinary good things of life; teach me to enjoy them with a grateful heart.