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Six ways to look godly while not growing your faith in 2014

 
Carl Laferton | 3 Jan 2014

This time last year, I mentioned six ways to look godly while not growing in your faith — and then spent 2013 battling them, falling for them, and finding several other ways, too. So here, for 2014, are six more ways to look great while doing little…

1. Multitask your Quiet Time

Every day, head off to a quiet place in your house with a Bible for half an hour. It will really encourage anyone you live with, and set a great example. And half an hour is a very long time. A brief read of the Bible, a quick Lord’s Prayer, and you’ve got about 28 minutes left for thinking through some work issues, or writing a mental shopping list, or considering where to go on your next vacation, or even doing some serious meditation with your eyes closed.

2. Ask for prayer without praying yourself

You’re humbly dependent on God for all things. It’s just that this way, you can delegate your humble dependence to others while you get on with life. Plus, by sharing prayer requests in this way, others know you are humbly dependent; and they find out about all the unseen ministries you’re part of.

3. Confuse talking about application with actually doing it.

It takes humility and godliness to accept correction and challenge, so make a point each Sunday of telling someone (preferably someone different each week) how the sermon applied to your life and how you need to change. Then don’t. Maximum effect, minimal effort. It’s the thought that counts...

4. Only do ministries that are noticeable and enjoyable

For some reason, when our service is something we enjoy anyway, it hardly seems sacrificial at all. And serving others is so much more pleasant when those others notice what we’re doing for them.

5. Refuse to accept encouragement

Whenever someone does thank you or mention an area they think you’re growing, reply that you don’t really think they’re right. You’ll sound modest, and the person encouraging you will feel the need to encourage you all over again. More praise to fuel your image, while scoring good humility points.

6. Rearrange the Christian books on your bookshelves.

Last year, #6 was “Buy Christian books and put them straight on your bookshelf”. This year, you can save yourself some money by simply rearranging the ones you bought last year. After all, only really seriously godly Christians read books twice. Leave a few scattered around your house, preferably open.

Matthew Weimer

2:09 PM GMT on January 4th
Number one really hit me good! As I strive to prioritize my Weekly agenda it's easy to marginalize my quiet time with the Lord. It becomes more about minutes and less about moments. Thanks for the kick in the pants!

Patrick

2:27 PM GMT on January 4th
I'm a master of #1. There was a point where my time with the Lord was amazing and focused....that was 3 years ago. It's been a fight ever since. Thanks for the post!

Matthew Weimer

2:36 PM GMT on January 4th
Number one really hit me good! As I strive to prioritize my Weekly agenda it's easy to marginalize my quiet time with the Lord. It becomes more about minutes and less about moments. Thanks for the kick in the pants!

Kara

10:54 PM GMT on January 4th
Check
Check
Check
Check
Check
Check!

DONE!! What do I win?? :) Thanks for the laughs.

This was supposed to be funny …… right??

Carlex

10:09 PM GMT on January 6th
great article; got me gud.
number 5.
thanks man, God bless u

Joey Espinosa

12:18 PM GMT on January 8th
4 out of 6 ain't bad, right?

Brandy

1:18 PM GMT on January 8th
Don't forget about doing missionary work. You can go somewhere warm a sunny during the cold months. If you tell enough people it will make you look good. Then you can feel better about the family you NEVER spend time with and the great grand child who is 2 1/2 that you've never meet because his parents aren't married! I just wonder how much GOD blesses someone who tries to do as little as they can for the sake of looking good to others????

Jim

2:18 PM GMT on January 8th
#5 and #1, but especially #5......ouch

Joan

2:54 PM GMT on January 8th
Got me right out of the gate.

Dominick

2:54 PM GMT on January 8th
Honestly though, What Christian couldn't(or shouldn't) check off at least any three of these? In my own life, I feel like I feel you left a few out! (could that be considered one right there? LOL)

Sarah B

3:27 PM GMT on January 8th
Very insightful article.

David

3:36 PM GMT on January 8th
I resemble these remarks. Ouch.

Jann

2:09 AM GMT on January 9th
Another one: Tell people you will pray for them but never pray for them.
Thanks for the great reminders that make us laugh but also make us pause and consider the true state of our spiritual lives.

Dave

8:36 AM GMT on January 13th
More guilt theology.

Carl Laferton

Carl is Editorial Director at The Good Book Company and is a member of Grace Church Worcester Park, London. He is the best-selling author of The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross and God's Big Promises Bible Storybook, and also serves as series editor of the God's Word for You series. Before joining TGBC, he worked as a journalist and then as a teacher, and pastored a congregation in Hull. Carl is married to Lizzie, and they have two children. He studied history at Oxford University.