1 Timothy 6:6-8 New King James Version
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, [a]and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
In a surprising program on HGTV, people go looking for tiny homes.
They don’t want an enormous monthly mortgage payment, and they don’t want to accumulate all kinds of unnecessary junk in their lives.
So they look at 200-squarefoot homes instead of 2,000 square-footers.
Some of these have a master bedroom you crawl into under the rafters, a children’s bedroom under the other end of the roof, and a kitchen, dining room, bath, and living room cleverly squeezed into one surprisingly small area.
Sometimes the biggest question they have to contend with is “Do we really need that bathtub? A shower takes up less space.”
In Japan, an old farmer’s futon was folded and stored in a closet each morning.
Presto! The bedroom became an instant living room!
“If we have food and clothing,” says Paul, “we will be content with that.”
Of course, if we live in daily colder climates, we might need a place to get in out of the icy blasts and a nice sized wood burning stove to stave off the cold nights.
If we are living daily in a more tropical climate, we might want to make more of a provision for places to keep cool – perhaps jury rig some kind of refrigerator?
I don’t know – because I have never lived year round in any tropical climate so I have no idea how they would create conditions to make ice cubes for lemonade.
But whether cold, warm or neutral climates, Apostle Paul’s point is well-taken.
Materialism sets all kinds of traps and temptations that can lead us astray from seeking after the things of God, after the life of my Savior upon the path of faith.
I know as most people do The tenth commandment which says that we — Do not covet our neighbors stuff (Exodus 20:17)— points the way to contentment.
If we always have a roving eye, hankering for our neighbor’s house, car, or power tools or lawnmowers, spouse, there will be no end to feeling unsettled.
But with the Holy Spirit living deep within our hearts, filling the void that would otherwise drive us to distraction, we should all have peace, contentment within.
Seasons With Our God: Great Gains through Godliness
1 Timothy 6:6-8 The Message
6-8 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.
When you and think of devoutly “gaining greatness” what comes to mind?
Personally, I have found in different seasons of my life that I’ve unknowingly picked up the view that “greatness” is only measured by my degrees of success over my degrees of my failures or how my abilities match up to someone else.
However, the Bible teaches us a completely different narrative, it teaches a more humbles truth about devout greatness.
This biblical view of greatness is radically different than what we encounter and what we would typically measure in the standards of living inside our world.
We are taught through the Word of God our greatness is steeped in Godliness.
Greatness in these eyes of God through the living Word of God, is directly tethered to the Gospel, who Jesus is and who He has called us to be in Christ.
We are reminded that to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:19-26 New King James Version
To Live Is Christ
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I [a]cannot tell. 23 [b]For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
Ponder that passage of text written from within a Roman prison for a moment!
That passage, the context of that passage alone, reveals how different we must more devoutly, humbly, view greatness and that it must be viewed through the lens of eyes, through eardrums and beating hearts set on a Kingdom mission.
We’re promised in the Word that we will find true contentment when we have a beating heart swelled with love, pumping out love and max desire for the Lord.
In 1 Timothy 6, the Apostle Paul has listed for his protégé Timothy, a detailed instruction about what living for Christ with a heart of contentment looks like.
It reveals that those seeking after God, seeking after, pursuing Christ will have peace and contentment with what they have and where God has placed them.
They will trust the Lord’s provision and timing.
They will know the difference between truth and lie.
Most importantly, they will know who is of God and who is not.
This is something of great gain.
This portion of scripture is just one of the many places where we see how we should be more devoutly, humbly, measuring out of our life’s “greatness”.
It isn’t based on us – it never should be, but on how Christ has called us to live.
This biblical perspective also changes everything for you and me when it comes to devoutly seeking after and finding contentment in the seasons God has us in.
It again realigns how we value “great things”.
Personally, as a brother to three sisters, an uncle to a niece, a step father to an adult son with his own growing son, I find myself in a season of life where I’m left giving far more than I am receiving – but even that paradigm is challenged.
In my season of recovering and rehabilitating from major Cardiac Surgery, I am in a season of having to receive an extra measure of care from my loving wife.
Most of the time my familial roles comes without accolades and pats on the back most days, and without bear hugs (praise God – ouch)and that’s okay.
However, this can sometimes leave me wondering if am I really making any lasting impact on the Kingdom of God God has me currently engaged with.
Does devoutly, humbly doing my daily tasks really lead to great gain for Jesus?
Truth be Told, somedays I find myself wondering exactly how long will it take to see, bear witness to the fruit of this labor of love that I do day in and day out.
I’m sure each of you readers have in some season of God experienced this too.
Regardless of what you do on a daily basis, have you found yourself asking of God through His Son Jesus, if what you’re doing is really making an impact?
The answer to that question is this, if you are devoutly, humbly seeking the Lord and His Son and on mission and ministry for His kingdom, then YES!.
Though it is probably unseen, we are making an impact and we are making great gains towards Godliness as you and I live for Christ where He has us.
My prayer is that in these our current seasons and circumstances in life, we will freely give God the space in our hearts to step in and take hold of all our hearts.
Let Him alone be the one to remind you that greatness is steeped in Godliness.
Let Him be the one who fills you with contentment in the roles He’s given you.
Covet the Gospel! Take the gospel forth! Covet, share the love of Jesus, and remind those around you that their “great gains” are found in Christ alone.
In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 King James Version
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Lord, thank you for giving us your Word which paves the way for great gains in Godliness. Help me to look to you rather than my abilities and milestones. Help me to rest in the truth that you have called me to a life rooted in the Kingdom mission and how that alone is a great gift that will come with eternal reward – a lifetime of celebration with you. To live is Christ, to die is gain. Thanks be to God! Jesus’ name,
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 