1 Timothy 6:3-10
PRAY
ILL: Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions.
Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God.
Over time the paths to these places became well worn.
As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others.
They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path."
Today in the Word, June 29, 1992.
Ill from sermoncentral.com
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
I. Definitions
A. Contentment
ow-tar’-ki-ah
a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed
a mind contented with its lot
Contentment is pretty straight forward, and maybe godliness is too, but what if someone were to ask you if you are Godly, what would you say?
If you were to say that you lead a godly life how would you define it?
B. Godliness
yoo-seb’-i-ah
If you live a godly life then you are “devoted to God”.
If you live a godly life then you have an “EARNEST” AND “SERIOUS” relationship to Him.
If you live a godly life then you are (set apart for a definite purpose) for God
If you live a godly life then you are loyal to God
Definitions from studylight.org
So to paraphrased our Bible verse this morning, the Bible states that, we should have a mind that is satisfied with its lot, and lead a life dedicate and loyal to God, and if we do that it is great gain for the believer.
So let’s look at these 3 separate possible conditions of this verse this morning.
1) Contentment without godliness / that is satisfied with our lot in life, but we have no godliness
2) Godliness without contentment / that is being devoted to God with a serious relationship, but with no contentment in life
3) Godliness with contentment / having both conditions met in our life
II. Contentment without godliness
A lot of us Children of God fit this profile.
A. For the Christian with contentment without godliness
1. Laziness and/or a lack of God being high enough on the priority list?
--A lack of zeal
--In other words
--That is satisfied with our lot in life, but no “EARNEST” OR “SERIOUS” relationship to God.
--That is satisfied with our lot in life, but no loyalty to God
a. I don’t have the time to go deeper with God
b. I’m a very busy person
c. Shake-n-bake (no Bible / no prayer / go to church done in an hour)
d. But some times when God is ready to use you and me in a new way, we say, we are just fine where we are at right now. We say that, God we are content and satisfied with our Christian life right now. This kind of Christian would not be able to say, “here I am Lord, send me.”
e. When we have contentment with no godliness, then we are more than likely in rebellion to God.
f. I had rebellion in my notes and took it out until I ran across a passage that used the very word “rebel” to describe this very thing.
2. There is a good story of this contentment without godliness recorded in several times at different intervals. It has to do with crossing a river—crossing the Jordan
a. What did Joshua say to God after losing 36 men in a battle?
b. Let’s look at one of those times:
Joshua 7:7 NIV
And Joshua said, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
WHAT!!!
But in Joshua 1:1-3 NIV, God specifically tells Joshua and Israel to cross the Jordan River! Again!
-If Joshua had not cross because he was content—he would have been in rebelion
himself.
c. This kind of “contentment” is not what we show be striving for at all, it is rebellion (Num. 14:9)!
d. Joshua knew better; what happen the first time that Israel was content to stay on the WRONG side of the Jordan?
e. (Num. 14:30) Everyone 20 years old except for Caleb and Joshua fell dead in the desert
B. We have to be on guard against this in our own lives.
1. Anyone know of a rebellious child? How did it go?
2. Rebellion in my own life has cost me dearly!
3. When we know to do something and don’t do it is sin
III. Godliness without contentment. Is this possible? I believe we all face times like these…
A lot of us believers fit this profile.
What does a believer’s life look like when we have godliness without contentment.
A. Anxiety
1. We are unable to get rid of our anxiety
2. Worry about the future
3. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Sometimes, after the anxiety has run its course, depression can set in.
B. Depression
1. God has past me by
a. for this is God’s will for you life
2. Fear is the opposite of faith / worry is the opposite of trust
Sometimes, after the depression, anger can set in.
C. Anger towards God / Force your way into something or force your way out of something
1. Many times our ego gets in the way of godliness and contentment for us; ie “need to speak in front of more people.”
a. 1 Corinthians 12
- Different gifts to different people
- Sometimes we are not happy with what God wants to do in our lives—we think we have a better plan…
b. Hummingbirds
c. A ministry leader and dinner
d. I am convinced that sometimes God protects us from ourselves
While I believe we all face times like these…we should not feel this way for any length of time.
IV. Let’s look at our third condition / Godliness with contentment is GREAT GAIN
A. Great gain (not necessarily financial gain) Vs5…and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
1. Vs7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
a. Baby born with nothing
b. We have nothing when we die
c. Yet we continue to chase things!
d. Paul disproves the idea that increased godliness increases ones bank account
How about this GREAT GAIN stuff?
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Turn to 1 Timothy 4:7-8
7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
How about ETERNAL GAIN
2. Paul was able to cross the Jordan in his life, because he learned to be content
a. Philippians 4:10-13
10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
B. Abraham
1. Abraham was Lot’s elder. But as their herds of animals grew…they decided to part ways.
2. Abraham allowed Lot to pick the land, and Lot picked the better land, but Abraham was content…he didn’t even talk about him latter!
Application:
We should be content with our life in regard to things we cannot change and things in God’s control—which are many.
Turn to
Pr 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Fear of the LORD—Greek Yir’ah: respect, reverence, piety revered
Notice the word then in Proverbs 19:23, also notice in vs6 of our verse this morning
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
As a believer, you will never be content in trouble without your live having a level of godliness!
So, how to we get godliness into our lives?
So, how to we get the fear of the LORD into our lives?
Look at
1Ti 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Pursue; Greek dee-o’-ko: to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after
We as believers need to run after godliness.
We are to never stop devoting our live to God in a deeper more meaningful way
We are to never stop reaching for a more “EARNEST” AND “SERIOUS” relationship with Him.
We are to never stop setting apart our live for God’s purposes! (becoming more holy in our walk)
We are never to stop becoming more loyal to God
Where’s God on your priority list?
-Ill. At my ordination—I said God called me to a deeper walk with Himself on January 7, 2003. Correction: God is always calling us to a deeper walk with Himself; a more serious & earnest walk with Himself
Has grass started growing on your path?
The first step with us all going deeper is to accept His mercy and grace.
Is Jesus calling you today?
Is he?
Are you hearing Him call you into a higher level of godliness this morning?
