Guest Post: The Godly Skill of Practicality

Note: Enjoy this guest post by Elizabeth Clevenger

Being a spiritual Christian is incomplete godliness. For we live and move and have our being in a physical body. A mystical, disembodied holiness reverts back to living under the Law, in that sense that it sets a standard of righteousness based on the philosophy of men rather than God.

Practicality Is Good

The goodness of human abilities and resources is baked into our existence. When God set up our world, it was all good. He gave us everything practical from mental faculties to an innate sense of rhythm to an entire physical world to enjoy. He also gave us physicality so that we would use it, work it, benefit from it. 

Practicality Is Necessary

I do not think it is an overstatement to say that practicality is essential for righteous living. The Christian’s entire being is Christ’s, including natural abilities, bodily action, etc. Yes, victorious living comes from being liberated from the kingdom of Satan and transferred to the kingdom of God (an invisible, spiritual reality). But it is not wrong, indeed, it is necessary and very helpful, to avail ourselves of the practical.

Practicality In Action

How can practicality enable Christian living?

• Use of logic: it is not wrong to solve a spiritual problem with thought, questions, and lines of reasoning. For example, if the problem is aerophobia (fear of flying), the Christian is about to get on a plane, he could recall logical facts about air travel. That may even be enough to resolve the fear completely. He just used the godly skill of practicality. There are many ways to use logic for godliness – if this area is new to you, seek out a Christian who thinks well and learn from them.

• Use of the body: it is not wrong to solve a spiritual problem with practical use of your body. For example, I am not naturally an early riser. If left to my own devices, I would stay up late and sleep in as long as possible. But that lifestyle is not conducive to Christian faithfulness. I know that if I maintain a certain degree of regular physical exercise, my body will naturally shift to going to bed early and getting up early, thereby solving my spiritual need with a practical solution.

• Use of the environment: it is not wrong to solve a spiritual problem with environmental help. For example, if you find yourself unexpectedly in a tempting environment of some kind, it is not spiritual to remain in that tempting environment trying to fight internally for victory. Remove yourself from that environment. Practical action can defeat temptation.

• Use of rest and relief: it is not wrong to solve a spiritual problem with means of bodily rest and relief. For example, if a Christian is experiencing physical pain of some kind and as a result he is tempted to be irritable, short-tempered, and to neglect his responsibilities, taking pain medication might free him up to respond better. The aim is holy living, not a hyper-spiritual-no-meds-tough-it-out approach. As for rest, I know a ministry wife who encourages her husband to take a brief nap when she detects irritation. After a short rest, he is good as new and ready to serve well!

• Use of routine: it is not wrong to solve a spiritual problem with routine. Ungodly actions and habits can sometimes be solved with creating or improving routine. For example, if you tend to spend more money than you have on eating out, a change in routine that enables cooking at home could solve the problem.

• Use of food and drink: it is not wrong to solve a spiritual problem through nourishment. For example, if you are tempted to be lazy and distracted at work, you may just be dehydrated. Drink water regularly and see if your work improves. Eat nutritious food and enough of it. If you don’t know how much protein, for example, the average person needs in a day, do your homework.  We are inseparably immaterial and material. Support your godliness with food and drink.

• Use of a question: when you find yourself sinning, ask yourself, “Is there a practical problem and solution?”

Practicality For the Win

Spiritual blessings from godly practicality:

• Enables more rapid and successful godliness
• Helps train your discernment regarding what can be solved practically and what cannot
• Prevents the mind from getting bogged down, confused, and lost in spirituality
• Helps you to know yourself and human nature
• Simplifies righteous decision-making
• Increases productivity
• Frees you up to pursue spiritual solutions when they are needed because you know that is so
• Builds confidence
• Increases joy in God and His good creation

Be spiritual. Be practical.

Elizabeth Clevenger is a member of Summit Woods Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit, MO. She has a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling, both from Calvary University. Elizabeth, a certified biblical counselor, enjoys serving her church in the areas of evangelism, music, and counseling, and works on staff at Summit Woods as administrative assistant.

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