Key text: Godliness
with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)
Introduction:
Godliness is a God-centered
life.
Ø It grows, not through
the pursuit of a process, but through the presence of a person.
Ø Jesus Christ is
the MYSTERY of godliness (1
Timothy 3:16).
Ø His presence in your
life is your hope of becoming the person God calls you to be. Christ in you
[is] the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Contentment is finding joy in
what God has given to you.
The opposite of contentment is GREED
which destroys your capacity to enjoy what God has given.
Ø Contentment is a
Christian grace that grows over time.
Ø It is not natural or
inborn.
Ø It does not come
quickly, easily or naturally. Paul says “I have learned to be content”
(Philippians 4:12).
How to develop Contentment:
Paul declares:
And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of
angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory. (1
Timothy 3:16).
He also declares to the Philippians
Church:
I know how to get along and live humbly
[in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and
every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed
or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need. (Philippians 4:12).
He is saying: “There were times when I
had plenty. But then God brought me to situations where I was ‘in need.’ And
through that I learned something: I discovered the secret of being content.”
Ø God used the
experience of loss to produce the good fruit of contentment in Paul’s life.
Ø Contentment as “a
rare jewel.”
Ø How can you find joy
in what God gives you, especially when it is less than you had before?:
Ø A Christian comes to
contentment, not so much by way of addition as by way of subtraction…
Ø Contentment does not
come by adding to what you have, but by subtracting from what you desire.
Ø The world says that
you will find contentment when your possessions rise to meet the level of your
desires… The Christian has another way to contentment, that is, he can bring
his desires down to his possessions.
Great gain
“Godliness with contentment is great
gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6
Not just gain, but “great gain.” Paul
says “If you have godliness with contentment, it will be of huge advantage to
you.” Why is this? It has to do with the consequences of not being content.
WHY CONTENTMENT?
1. YOU CANNOT KEEP
WHAT YOU GAIN:
"But
those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a
compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into
many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction
[leading to personal misery].” (1Tim. 6:9)
If getting rich is your goal, you
cannot keep what you gain.
“We brought nothing into the world, and
we can take nothing out of it” (v. 7).
You may get rich, but you cannot stay
rich.
You cannot keep what you gain in this
world.
2. YOU WILL ENCOUNTER
POWERFUL TEMPTATIONS
"But
those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a
compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into
many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction
[leading to personal misery].”
“For the love of money [that is, the
greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of
all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows." (1Tim. 6: 9, 10)
If you set your heart on money, you
expose yourself to powerful temptations that ruin many people.
3. YOU MAY WANDER
FROM THE FAITH
“Some people, eager
for money, have wandered from the faith” (v. 10)
Ø In the parable of the
sower, our Lord speaks about “seed that is choked by thorns and thistles.” The
seed is God’s Word. The thorns and thistles are “the worries of this life, and
the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:19).
Money chokes the fruit of God’s Word in the lives of some people.
4. You will
experience great sorrow
“Some people, eager
for money, have… pierced themselves with many griefs” (v.10)
Ø Money is a great
servant but a terrible master.
Ø If you set your heart
on money, money will break your heart.
Ø You will not keep
what you gain.
Ø You will fall into
powerful temptations.
Ø You may wander from
the faith.
Ø You will pierce
yourself with many griefs and sorrows.
Ø That’s why godliness
with contentment is great gain. When you have less, learn the art of
contentment. This rare jewel is not found when you have more, but when you have
less.
II. HOW DO WE ACQUIRE CONTENTMENT?
Contentment comes when we can honestly
say with the apostle Paul, "I know
both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all
circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content] - whether well-fed
or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through
Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:12-13).
Ø
Contentment
is learned.
Ø
It
isn't natural.
Ø
We're
not born with it.
Ø
It
is not a gift.
The secret for contentment in every
situation is to focus on the Lord--as Sovereign, as Savior, and as the
Sufficient One.
1.
CONTENTMENT COMES FROM FOCUSING ON THE LORD AS THE SOVEREIGN ONE TO WHOM I MUST
SUBMIT.
Ø
Sometimes
God supplied abundantly, and so Paul had learned how to live in prosperity.
Ø
But
sometimes God withheld support, and so Paul had to learn to get along with
humble means.
At
those times, he did not grumble or panic, but submitted to the sovereign hand
of God, trusting that God knew what was best for him and that He always cared
for His children (1 Pet. 5:6-7).
God
uses all our circumstances to train us in godliness if we submit to Him and
trust Him. Our attitude in trials and our deliberate submission to His sovereignty
in the trial is crucial.
2.
CONTENTMENT COMES FROM FOCUSING ON THE LORD AS THE SAVIOR WHOM WE MUST SERVE.
The reason Paul knew that God would
meet his basic needs was that Jesus had promised, “Seek first His kingdom and His
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt.
6:33).
All these things refers to what you
shall EAT,
What you shall DRINK,
What you shall WEAR (6:25).
Jesus was teaching that if we will put our
focus on serving Him and growing in righteousness, God will take care of our
basic material needs.
PLEASE
TAKE NOTE:
Ø
He
promises to supply our needs, not our greed.
Ø
If
you live for yourself and your own pleasure, you will not know God’s
contentment. But if you follow Paul in living to serve the Savior, you will be
content, whether you have little or much.
3.
CONTENTMENT COMES FROM FOCUSING ON THE LORD AS THE SUFFICIENT ONE WHOM I MUST
TRUST.
Paul says that he had “learned the
secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering
need” (4:12). That secret is stated in verse 13, “I can do all things in Him who continually infuses me with strength”
Ø
The
all-sufficient, indwelling Christ was Paul’s source of strength and
contentment.
Ø
Notice
that there is a need to learn not only how to get along in times of need, but also
how to live with abundance.
Ø
In
times of need, we’re tempted to get our eyes off the Lord and grow worried.
That’s when we need a trusting heart.
Ø
In
times of abundance we’re tempted to forget our need for the Lord and trust in
our supplies rather than in Him.
2 Cor. 9:8 “God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all
sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”
4.
CONTENTMENT COMES WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF GOD:
And
I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the
gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are
in the Book of Life.
Philippians 4:3 (NKJV)
Ø
Contentment
begins when we as Christians understand and appreciate the purpose of God in
our salvation.
Ø
Jesus
taught His disciples that the primary reason for our rejoicing is the
confidence that our names are written down eternally in heaven.
Ø
Luke
10:20 (NKJV), says, Nevertheless do not
rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice
because your names are written in heaven.”
5. CONTENTMENT COMES WHEN WE PRACTICE THE
PRESENCE OF GOD:
Finally,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things
are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things
are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy--meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Philippians 4:8 gives us six great
virtues or character traits found in the lives of believers who are practicing
the presence of God in their lives.
A.
Truth, whatever things are true, absolute honesty.
B.
Honor, whatever things are noble, that which is worthy
C.
Justice, whatever things are just, that which is right or righteous
D.
Purity, whatever things are pure, inward purity, clean and holy
E.
Loveliness, whatever things are lovely, 1 Cor. 13:4-7 (NKJV)
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is
not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the
truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things.
F.
Good Report, a character above reproach; a winning, attractive personality.
Ø
Living
such a life of Christian distinction can only be accomplished by practicing the
presence of Holy God in our lives. When
we do, we live experience contentment.
6.
CONTENTMENT COMES WHEN WE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD:
But
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished
again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Philippians 4:10
(NKJV)
Nevertheless
you have done well that you shared in my distress. Philippians
4:14 (NKJV)
Ø
Like
Paul, we know contentment in our lives when they are lived in harmony with and
appreciation for our Christian brothers and sisters.
Ø
We
are family. We are a spiritual family,
the family of God.
Ø
Listen
again to how lovingly Paul expresses his care for his spiritual family at
Philippi in verse one.
7. CONTENTMENT COMES WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THE
PEACE OF GOD:
6 Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God; 7
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Ø
It
should not be overlooked that Paul also emphasizes the importance of prayer in
the life of a believer in these verses.
Instead of anxiety or worry, Paul recommends prayer, supplication and
thanksgiving.
Ø
He
instructs us to let our requests be known to God.
Ø
Tell
God about it.
Ø
He
says when we replace worry with prayer; we will also know peace, the peace of
God.
Ø
This
is a peace that cannot necessarily be explained but experienced! There is a beautiful word picture here in
verse 7. It’s found in the word
guard. The word means to set up a guard
or sentinel over one’s heart, to guard or protect one’s heart, and we might
even say one’s mind, which leads to peace and contentment.
8.
CONTENTMENT COMES WHEN WE REALIZE THE
POWER OF GOD:
I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians
4:13 (NKJV)
Ø
This
is really the secret to true contentedness.
Ø
Knowing
and experiencing the power of God or Jesus Christ living within us.
Ø
It
is Christ in us, the hope of Glory who enables us to know true contentedness.
9.
CONTENTMENT COMES WHEN WE RECEIVE THE
PROVISION OF GOD:
And
my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. Philippians
4:19 (NKJV)
Ø
What
a wonderful promise from God’s word.
Ø
I
call Philippians 4:19 God’s blank check.
Ø
In
God’s economy, the bank will never go bankrupt.
Ø
He
promises to supply all our need not our wants.
Ø
He
has plenty of capital, according to His riches; the bank’s location is found in
glory, and Christ Jesus is our guarantor!
10.
CONTENTMENT COMES WHEN WE ANTICIPATE THE
PAROUSIA (2ND COMING) OF
GOD:
Let
your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5
(NKJV)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we
also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will
transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body,
according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to
Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
Ø
Contentment
comes as we begin to live with a holy expectation and anticipation of the soon
and certain return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ø
We
find ourselves praying the prayer of the Revelator John who prayed, “Even so come Lord Jesus.”
Ø
The
secret of Paul’s contentment was the Lord Himself—HIS PURPOSE, HIS PRESENCE, HIS
PEOPLE, HIS PEACE, HIS POWER, HIS PROVISION AND HIS PAROUSIA.