Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Contentment. It's one of those words where, if you think about it, you kind of know what it feels like to be content—and you also know what it's like to just be discontent. One of the things we lack as a culture is contentment. Certain advertising, certain things in this culture really program you and me to be dissatisfied. Our Verse of the Day speaks to this tremendous issue of contentment and really gives us the keys—the answer—to a life that has true contentment.
It's our Verse of the Day today, 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 6, which says: "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." In another translation: "great gain."
The Context: Paul Writing to Timothy
Paul, the experienced apostle, is writing to a young pastor, Timothy, who carries large burdens of responsibility. He has to face false doctrine and false teachers, and he really needs to stand true to the Word of God. Here in chapter 6, we find two very important principles for how to be content.
Avoid False Gain
Number one: avoid false gain, or avoid false teachers. The verses right before our Verse of the Day say: if anyone teaches a doctrine different from the sound words and teaching Paul gave, that person is puffed up, conceited, and understands nothing. Then it says he has an unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels about words. Have you ever noticed that there are people who can be very controversial and they love to quarrel—because they get likes and they get money for it—because they know that controversy sells? These are false teachers. It says they are slanderous, full of evil suspicions, and there is constant friction among people who are depraved in mind, imagining that godliness is a means of great gain.
These false teachers Paul is talking about thought that being "godly" would make them money. Their thought life is all about the earth, all about money. It's not wrong to make money, but if that's our sole purpose, we're going in the wrong direction. Avoid these false teachers.
Aim for Godliness
Secondly: aim for godliness. The verse says yet true godliness with contentment is itself great gain, or great wealth. Don't confuse yourself with the word here—true godliness with contentment—as if they're two separate things. The idea is that if you're really godly, contentment is built into that. In 1 Timothy chapter 4, verse 7, Paul already said, train yourself to be godly. He said it just a couple of chapters earlier. Why? Because he knows that we are to aim our lives toward godliness. That word in 1 Timothy chapter 4, verse 7 carries the idea of training—getting into the gym, as it were, so that you can exercise and be godly.
What is godliness? It's knowing God. It's knowing that God is great. It's treasuring God, treasuring Jesus Christ, knowing who He is, walking with Him. If you have God, you have great gain. To be accepted by God, accepted by Christ, fully forgiven—to have a clear conscience, to know that you have peace with the God of the universe—that is incredible gain for you and for me.
False Gain Brings Pain
What do we do with this text? Two quick thoughts. Number one: false gain brings pain. If we're just after false gain, it brings pain. Paul says just a few verses later: those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and those who have wandered in that direction have pierced themselves with many pains. False gain brings pain.
Godliness Brings Great Gain
Second and finally: godliness brings great gain. Paul said again, just a couple of chapters earlier in chapter 4 and verse 8: godliness is of value in every way, holding promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Great gain is faith-rooted godliness. You might say, I'm wealthy, I have a lot of money. Well, just a few verses further in chapter 6, verse 17, Paul says those who are rich in this present age should not be haughty or set their hope on riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Those people should be rich in good works for others.
As you look at your life, let's be good stewards of our time, our talent, and our treasure. Let's be those who are godly and build our lives with great gain—because we are godly in this life—so that we can be ready to love Christ not only in this life, but also in the next.
