Summary: FINDING HAPPINESS AS A CHRISTIAN

TWO PILLARS OF HAPPINESS - 1 Timothy 6:6-8

But godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into world, certain we can carry nothing out. {8} And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

INTRO:

Happiness as a Christian rests on two great pillars, Godliness and Contentment. If either collapses the building of our happiness falls.

I/ PILLAR #1 - GODLINESS

1. What is it ?

It is God likeness. It is when we behave like Godly people.

2. We can tell what it is by what it is associated with in scripture:

a. Honesty - 1 Timothy 2:2

For kings, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all [godliness] and honesty.

b. Good works - 1 Timothy 2:10

But (which becometh women professing [godliness]) with good works.

c. Faith, Love, Patience and Meekness -

1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, [godliness], faith, love, patience, meekness.

d. Holy Conversation - 2 Peter 3:11

then all these things shall be dissolved,what manner ought ye to be in holy conversation and [godliness],

3. Where is the source of Godliness? - It comes from Jesus 2 Peter 1:3 "According as his DIVINE POWER hath GIVEN unto US all things that unto life and [godliness], through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4. What Godliness is not!

a. Perverse disputings, supposing that gain is godliness 1 Timothy 6:5 "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is [godliness]: from such withdraw thyself.

b. Acting godly, but denying God’s power

2 Timothy 3:5 "Having a form of [godliness], but denying the power thereof:from such turn away.

II/ PILLAR #2 - CONTENTMENT

1. The Reason for being Content

Hebrews 13:5 conversation without covetousness; [content] with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

2. What we need to be Content

1 Timothy 6:8

And having food and raiment let us be therewith [content].

Many people are not content with the work they are doing because the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. They are dissatisfied even when their circumstances are favorable. Instead of doing their duty cheerfully and conscientiously as unto the Lord, they yield to a spirit of covetousness. As a result, they miss God’s best for their lives and fail to see the blessings they already have.

An ancient Persian legend tells of a wealthy man by the name of Al Haffed who owned a large farm. One evening a visitor related to him tales of fabulous amounts of diamonds that could be found in other parts of the world, and of the great riches they could bring him. The vision of all this wealth made him feel poor by comparison. So instead of caring for his own

prosperous farm, he sold it and set out to find these treasures.

But the search proved to be fruitless. Finally, penniless and in despair, he committed suicide by jumping into the sea.

Meanwhile, the man who had purchased his farm noticed one day the glint of an unusual stone in a shallow stream on the property. He reached into the water, and to his amazement he pulled out a huge diamond. Later when working in his garden, he uncovered many more valuable gems. Poor Al Haffed had spent his life

traveling to distant lands seeking jewels when the farm he had left behind were all the precious stones his heart could have ever desired.

3. What does a Christian need to be content?

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be [content].

JOY AND HAPPINESS IN CHRIST IS NOT POSSIBLE IF ONE OF THESE PILLARS MISSING:

III/ SUPPOSE YOU HAVE GODLINESS WITHOUT CONTENTMENT

1. The Bible says What ever is not of faith is sin

Romans 14:23 -"And he that doubteth is damned if he eat,because not of faith: for whatsoever not of faith is sin." A heart that is complaining is a heart that has fear and anxiety.

2. The root of discontentment is lust and covetousness, If you are not content, then you are sinning. You are saying God is not fair to me, and your discontent turns to coveteousness and a distain for godly things.

3. The Bible says that Incontentment is a sign of a reprobate - 2 Timothy 3:3 "Without natural affection, trucebreakers,false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4. Discontentment results in Alcoholism, Drug addiction and Mental Disorders. Billy Graham once quoted a director of a large General Hospital as estimating that 70% of the patients were suffering from psychoneurotic symptoms.

IV/ SUPPOSE YOU HAVE CONTENTMENT WITHOUT GODLINESS

The Bible says - James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth not, to him it is sin.

1. The Churchs are content and complacent - Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

2. God’s people are so content they are at ease - Amos 6:1 Woe to them [at ease in Zion], and trust in the mountain of Samaria, named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! Amos 6:3-5 Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; {4} That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; {5} That chant to the sound of the viol, invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; Amos 6:6

That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

a. The World’s population is growing more than a million a week But Americans are spending more on bubble gum than they are sending to missions. I recently read that Americans spend 10 Billion more a year on gambling, than on National Defence.

3. People are content with their selfish pursuits.-

2 Timothy 3:2 says that in the last days: "For men shall be [lovers of] their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"

V/ HOWEVER, WITH BOTH PILLARS THE BIBLE SAYS:

"GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN"

We must become Victims to the Will of God, in order to be Victors in the Work of God!

Try building your Happiness on these two pillars:

GODLINESS AND CONTENTMENT - THEY BOTH START WITH CHRIST AND THEY WILL HELP YOU: In this life AND In the Life to come 1 Timothy 6:7,8 - For we brought nothing into world, certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

VI/ THE PERIL OF RICHES - 1 Timothy 6:9

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1. THE LURE: The person who grasps for money is lured like an animal into a trap. Just like a big hunk of cheese on a mouse trap, the lure of riches traps many a person. I once visited some people who had missed a lot of Church. They said they had bought to much stuff on time, and had to work several jobs to make payments. The lure of things was keeping them from the Lord’s house.

2. THE LUST: The lust for riches beccomes the driving force in a person’s life. The person gives in to foolish and harmful desires. Many workaholics do not spend time with their family until it is two late. The lust of money, robs them of time to spend with their family, and often the stress robs them of their health.

3. THE LOSS: The person who lives for riches suffers a great loss. The result is ruin and destruction. -

Mark 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

WILL YOU STRIVE FOR GODLINESS AND CONTENTMENT STARTING TODAY?

HAPPINESS IS BEING THANKFULL FOR SUCH THINGS AS YOU HAVE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONES’S YOU JUST HAVE TO LOVE THEM.

LET’S READ VERSE 10 AND 11 TOGETHER:

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

NOTICE IT IS THE LOVE OF MONEY THAT IS EVIL, NOT MONEY ITSELF!

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; {18} That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; {19} Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

IF YOU HAVE MONEY, THE BIBLE SAYS GOD GAVE IT TO YOU, OR HE GAVE YOU THE HEALTH AND WISDOM TO GET IT, THE BIBLE THEN SAYS BE READY TO DISTRIBUTE. THE THINGS WE HAVE DO NOT REALLY BELONG TO US, WE ARE ONLY USING THEM FOR AWHILE.