Contentment: A Thought
Now Godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:6-11
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content;
Philippians 4:11
Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty not riches – Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.
Proverbs 30:8-9
Contentment. You do not often hear sermons on such a subject.
So often we want God to bless us with more. More money. More houses. More, More, More.
If Godliness with contentment is great gain, does that mean Godliness without contentment is not great gain? God cares about contentment.
It is when you are content with “food and clothing” (1 Tim. 6:8) and have a true understanding of living for the Kingdom to come and not for now, that you will truly begin to walk in BIBLICAL FINANCES.
Money is not bad. Wealth is not bad. But why would you desire it to spend on pleasures and to store it up. 2 Corinthians 9:10 says God supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food. We must spend some of our money on “bread” – our necessities that we must be content with. But the extra that the church for too long has spent on themselves and their own selfish pleasures is meant as “seed.” Seed—to sow into the Kingdom of God. Seed to reap a harvest of souls. Seed to reap fruit of righteousness. Bread and Seed. I don’t see any cake mentioned. The glorious news is that when you continue to sow seed, God will always give you bread to eat – but you must keep sowing your seed.
“Bless me so I can be a blessing.”
I have no problem with praying this IF we understand that no matter how much or how little money or possessions we have, we still have bread to eat and seed to sow. Even if we have very little, we can still give to the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Paul commends the Macedonian church for giving liberally in spite of their great persecution and poverty. My concern with the above prayer is if we are not giving and pouring into the kingdom now in our current state, why do we think our selfish hearts will suddenly wake up and desire to give when we have a lot of money?
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desire for pleasure that war in your members?
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Adulterers and Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James 4:1-4
How much money could the church of America pour into the Kingdom of God if we were content with food and clothing and decided to be radical in our giving? And I wonder how much evil, temptation, sorrow, and fights would dissipate within the church.
Contentment. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
Now Godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:6-11
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content;
Philippians 4:11
Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty not riches – Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.
Proverbs 30:8-9
Contentment. You do not often hear sermons on such a subject.
So often we want God to bless us with more. More money. More houses. More, More, More.
If Godliness with contentment is great gain, does that mean Godliness without contentment is not great gain? God cares about contentment.
It is when you are content with “food and clothing” (1 Tim. 6:8) and have a true understanding of living for the Kingdom to come and not for now, that you will truly begin to walk in BIBLICAL FINANCES.
Money is not bad. Wealth is not bad. But why would you desire it to spend on pleasures and to store it up. 2 Corinthians 9:10 says God supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food. We must spend some of our money on “bread” – our necessities that we must be content with. But the extra that the church for too long has spent on themselves and their own selfish pleasures is meant as “seed.” Seed—to sow into the Kingdom of God. Seed to reap a harvest of souls. Seed to reap fruit of righteousness. Bread and Seed. I don’t see any cake mentioned. The glorious news is that when you continue to sow seed, God will always give you bread to eat – but you must keep sowing your seed.
“Bless me so I can be a blessing.”
I have no problem with praying this IF we understand that no matter how much or how little money or possessions we have, we still have bread to eat and seed to sow. Even if we have very little, we can still give to the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Paul commends the Macedonian church for giving liberally in spite of their great persecution and poverty. My concern with the above prayer is if we are not giving and pouring into the kingdom now in our current state, why do we think our selfish hearts will suddenly wake up and desire to give when we have a lot of money?
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desire for pleasure that war in your members?
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Adulterers and Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James 4:1-4
How much money could the church of America pour into the Kingdom of God if we were content with food and clothing and decided to be radical in our giving? And I wonder how much evil, temptation, sorrow, and fights would dissipate within the church.
Contentment. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
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