Great Gain

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you have great gain?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that great gain is only two things, master of these two things will go a long, long way for all of us.

IV. TEXT:

1 Timothy 6:6 (Amplified Bible)

[And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.

V. THESIS:

Godliness and contentment are great gain.

VI. TITLE:

Great gain

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: About 64 A.D., but uncertain

C. To whom written: Timothy, Paul's true son in the faith

1 Timothy 1:2 (New International Version)

To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

D. Main themes: Advice and exhortation to a young pastor respecting his personal conduct and ministerial work

E. Keyword: conduct

F. Key verse:

1 Timothy 3:15 (New International Version)

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

Two major gains in this life, namely: (1) Godliness and (2) Contentment according to this verse. We are trained here in this world to master and be an expert on these two things.

A. Godliness

"[And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness"

Deuteronomy 4:40 (Amplified Bible)

Therefore you shall keep His statutes and His commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God gives you forever.

Isaiah 65:22 (Amplified Bible)

They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat [the fruit]. For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My chosen and elect shall long make use of and enjoy the work of their hands.

Titus 3:8 (Amplified Bible)

This message is most trustworthy, and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed in (trusted in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honorable occupations and to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but [they are] good and profitable for the people.

I thought before it was money and accumulation of wealth. But now I know better, and money is not in Heaven, since everything there are already for free bought with a price by the LORD JESUS CHRIST for us. So we need to hold on our godliness not based on our human efforts but on the finished work of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

B. Contentment

"accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain."

Proverbs 15:16 (Amplified Bible)

Better is little with the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord than great and rich treasure and trouble with it.

Being content is not based on the number of things we have or the number of different foods we enjoy and eat. It's about the LORD JESUS CHRIST, when we are joyful in reverent, worship of our LORD, that's true contentment.

Luke 3:14 (Amplified Bible)

Those serving as soldiers also asked him, And we, what shall we do? And he replied to them, Never demand or enforce by terrifying people or by accusing wrongfully, and always be satisfied with your rations (supplies) and with your allowance (wages).

The soldiers have never changed throuhout time, if we see them corrupt it's always because of these three things, namely: (1) they demand people money, (2) they terrify people to wrongfully accuse them, (3) and they're not satisfied or contented with their wages.

Philippians 4:11 (Amplified Bible)

Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.

1 Timothy 6:8 (Amplified Bible)

But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied).

Hebrews 13:5 (Amplified Bible)

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

Philippians 4:12 (Amplified Bible)

I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.