6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6

⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6

A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of BEING YOURSELF BEFORE GOD. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough. 1 Timothy 6:6 MSG

I ‘heard’ this short verse this morning and looked it up in First Timothy to read the context. Paul was giving his spiritual son Timothy good advice and of course all the saints through the ages.

I have long believed that there are really only two classes of people on this earth, Godly or God-Fearing and Godless. Those who know God (their number is about to increase massively I hope) and those who don’t. (I also believe that God still has a Covenant with His Jewish people)

In the preceding verses Paul warns Timothy about those who teach false doctrines and do not agree with the ‘sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and godly teaching’.

⁴they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words THAT RESULT IN ENVY, STRIFE (Robin R Bullock, keep Strife out of your home, like you would a serpent), MALICIOUS TALK, EVIL SUSPICIONS that result in envy, ⁵and AND CONSTANT FRICTION BETWEEN PEOPLE OF CORRUPT MIND, who have been robbed of the truth and who THINK THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS TO FINANCIAL GAIN.

BAD TEACHERS BRING BAD FRUIT AND SOONER OR LATER IT WILL SHOW.

In the succeeding verses Paul warns Timothy about those who have a greater desire for money, than for Christ.

⁹Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL the love. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and PIERCED THEMSELVES WITH MANY GRIEFS.

Once again the fruit of loving money more than God, harms those who follow it.

Derek Prince podcast this morning (only 11 minutes long, https://www.dpmuk.org/resources/podcast), 23 March 2020, was about Godliness and he gave two helpful definitions;

Godliness is 1) A life that would be meaningless if there was no God. 2) A life that is a continual reminder to all of the reality of God. (A person who reminds us of God)

Many of us have known people who reminded us of God, perhaps grandparents or Sunday School teachers. God shone through them and people around them knew it.

Another thing Paul warns us about is the dramatic increase in ungodliness in the End Times. People will be ‘Lovers of self, lovers of money … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.’ 2 Timothy 3:2-4

These things will assault the souls of Believers in our days, but Paul told Timothy, to hold fast to Godliness and trust God to bless him and meet his needs.

GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN, NO MATTER WHAT THE WORLD CHASES AFTER.

God bless and keep you today.

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