IBS 13 - godliness with contentment
1 Timothy 6:6-8
"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."
In this section of Pauls letter he writes to Timothy about false teaching and teaching that accords with godliness. Reading from the text you can conclude that at this time there might have been teachers that taught godliness was a way of gain, or a way to become rich. The Christian walk isn't for material gain but spiritual fulfillment. Sometimes we can be so distracted by what we don't have that we lose focus on what we do have. The calling Christians have is a calling full of sacrifice and service to God. How can we then be in desire of things that aren't apart of God plan? We can't justify the wants of the flesh and trying would be a sin. God knows our needs and will provide for his people. David expresses his experience in Ps. 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old,yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." Whenever we feel discontentment we should ask ourselves: Do you have a place to sleep? Did you have something to eat today? Do you have clothes to wear? If these questions don't humble us to having contentment then I don't think it's a lack of having but a lack of being. Being What? Being in the word, being in prayer, being in fellowship with our Father. Another thing when being in true Christian service we have the ability to ask for help from our community. Finally, God is not going to bless us with things that will stumble us but instead blessing us with the fruits of the spirit that edify us and glorify Him. In applying this scripture today I will find contentment by reading my bible more than usually planned.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."
In this section of Pauls letter he writes to Timothy about false teaching and teaching that accords with godliness. Reading from the text you can conclude that at this time there might have been teachers that taught godliness was a way of gain, or a way to become rich. The Christian walk isn't for material gain but spiritual fulfillment. Sometimes we can be so distracted by what we don't have that we lose focus on what we do have. The calling Christians have is a calling full of sacrifice and service to God. How can we then be in desire of things that aren't apart of God plan? We can't justify the wants of the flesh and trying would be a sin. God knows our needs and will provide for his people. David expresses his experience in Ps. 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old,yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." Whenever we feel discontentment we should ask ourselves: Do you have a place to sleep? Did you have something to eat today? Do you have clothes to wear? If these questions don't humble us to having contentment then I don't think it's a lack of having but a lack of being. Being What? Being in the word, being in prayer, being in fellowship with our Father. Another thing when being in true Christian service we have the ability to ask for help from our community. Finally, God is not going to bless us with things that will stumble us but instead blessing us with the fruits of the spirit that edify us and glorify Him. In applying this scripture today I will find contentment by reading my bible more than usually planned.
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