Cleanliness is Next to Godliness?

Cleanliness is next to godliness. It's true! Psalm 51:10 says, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded."

Now the phrase itself, "Cleanliness is next to godliness," is not in the Bible. One of the earliest appearances of the phrase is from John Wesley, who said, "Slovenliness is no part of religion. Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness."

When the Bible talks about cleanliness, it talks about spiritual cleanliness. Even the parts where we read about external cleanliness or being clean in the body are meant to be outside examples of being clean in the soul. We must be washed from the stain of sin. We must be holy in the eyes of God, and we must be after that holiness.

But a person who is dirty and sweaty from working outside has not become unholy, nor is a person who has a messy desk or unwashed dishes.

In Mark 7, the Pharisees criticized Jesus disciples because they didn't wash their hands before they ate: "Why do your disciples eat with defiled hands?" Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and told the people, "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." Our hearts are what's unclean.

1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." That's cleanliness that leads to godliness, when we understand the text.

What is the Meaning of Life?

What is the meaning of life? That is the question, right? It's the question at the heart of all philosophical and existential thought. And the answer means everything.

Most of the ancient philosophers believed happiness was the meaning of life, and we acquire happiness through knowledge. The more a person knows, the happier they will be. So Indian teacher Buddha came up with his four noble truths and the eightfold path to happiness. Chinese philosopher Confucius taught that the happiest people are the well-educated.

Greek thinker Plato believed we must attain to the highest form of knowledge. Socrates believed in asking questions, which leads to knowledge, which leads to happiness.

Epicurus believed in finding happiness in simple things, like philosophical conversation. Zeno, the founder of stoicism, believed the meaning of life was freedom from suffering, which can be accomplished with the right kind of thinking.

In all their ponderings, none of these wise guys held a candle to the brilliance of King Solomon. You know what he said? "All things are full of weariness," "There is nothing new under the sun," and "he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

Ouch. So happiness is not the meaning of life, and knowledge won't get you there. So what is the meaning of life? Solomon siad this: "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

There is a King even greater and wiser than Solomon—the Lord Jesus Christ. His words lead to everlasting life and joy forevermore. Jesus is the answer, when we understand the text.