What is Godliness?

For bodily exercise profits a little, but GODLINESS is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
I Timothy 4:8 NKJV

Godliness
STRONGS NT 2150: εὐσέβεια
reverence, respect; in the Bible everywhere piety toward God, godliness: Acts 3:12; 1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 4:7, 8; 1 Timothy 6:5f, 11; 2 Timothy 3:5; 2 Peter 1:3, 6

I always thought Godliness is obedience. But the truth is, Godliness LEADS TO obedience, but it is actually not quite the same. Godliness, as defined by Thayer's, refers to REVERENCE, as described also by John Macauthur on his notes for 1 Tim 4:8, as devout piety towards God.

It is through Godliness, which is a respect and reverence, or described in other parts of the bible as "Fear of the Lord", that we learn to obey.

Just as Paul used an analogy of bodily exercise can profit the body, Godliness or "Respect" for God can be trained. And it starts with worship (which he regarded as a gymnasium for reverence training) and our attitute towards how to worship in spirit and in truth.

To worship in spirit and in truth, is not about singing WITH emotions. In fact, we are not to be LED BY IT. It is about understanding word of God, and emotions are a RESPOND to the truth. Superficial modern one line chorus does not convey that truth, but water it down to to be openly intepreted by our superficial understanding.

Back to 1 Tim 4:8, Paul therefore urges Timothy that GODLINESS is profitable for all things. It benefits all aspects of life where we learn to walk and talk to anyone in every situation, while we keep in mind for respect for God.

*Side note : Reverence or Fear, is also used in Matt 21:33-46 about the parable of the Vineyard owner; where he expected that the wicked vinedressors will respect his Son, but they didn't.

Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will RESPECT my son.’
Matthew 21:37 NKJV