Paul the
apostle wrote to Timothy concerning those who would “consent not
to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to
the doctrine which is according to godliness”. He shared with
Timothy the characteristics of those who would bring in heretical
teachings including “supposing that gain is godliness”.
Paul told Timothy, “from such withdraw yourself”,
and in chapter six and verse six of his letter to him, Paul
shared the benefit of “godliness with contentment” where
we read:
But
godliness with contentment is great gain.
The verse begins, “But
godliness with contentment...” After
declaring the traits of false teachers, Paul employed the word, “But”
which tells us that what is about to be stated takes precedence over
what was just written as he goes on to write, “godliness”
which is “reverence, respect and piety toward God” “with
contentment” which means “a
perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed,
sufficiency of the necessities of life and a mind contented
with its lot”. True reverence and respect toward God is to be
contented with the life that He has provided.
The verse goes
on to say, “...is great gain” Paul went on to add, “is
great” or “splendid, stately, of huge importance and esteem”
“gain” which means “acquisition, furnishing, procuring
and money-getting”. In other words, there is no greater “gain”
than “godliness with contentment”,
and Paul desired for Timothy to know and hold to that idea.
As we think
through Paul's words, we may find his statement much easier to say
than to live. Being contented with our allotment in life is not
always easy. The desire for more whether it be material possessions,
educational level, fame, fortune and notoriety seems to be a part of
our nature. The false teachers who would be around Timothy thought
their “gain” communicated their level of “godliness”,
and Paul declared that “godliness with contentment” was
“great gain”. Perhaps our prayer should be for the Lord
Jesus to help us to be “contented” with that He has provided, and
allow our desire for other things to be replaced by our desire for a
closer relationship with Him. May He provide us with that closer
contented relationship, in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Next
time Paul what we brought into this world and what we will carry out,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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