THE GREAT GAIN OF CONTENTMENT MIXED WITH GODLINESS

CHRIST THE ROCK CONGREGATION

SUNDAY AUGUST 27TH 2023

BY PASTOR MARC E SIMEON

NOW GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS A GREAT GAIN. 1 TIM 6:6

1Tim 6:6-12

1Ti 6:6 ¶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

 9 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.

 10 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.

 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

INTRODUCTION

• Our world is run by greed and an insatiable thirst for dominance.
• Our generation suffers the disease of dissatisfaction.
• Since most people are not connected with God, they are left with vacuum that nothing in this life can substitute for it.
• Some try to accumulate as much wealth as they can only to widen the gulf within them.
• The dream house on the hill or by the ocean could not do it for them.
• The many degrees from the learning institutions could not do it for them.
• Reaching the pinnacle in the social ladder also fails to fill the gap.
• The many luxurious cars and collectible items could not do it for them,.
• King Salomon, an avid thrill seeker tried it all to no avail. He saw them as vanity.
• The vicious cycle is that the next adventures keep on promising falsely that you will find that wholeness if you give them a try.
• Some are on their 5^th divorce because they cannot be contented.
• Some have from country to country in search for that click.
• Many develop compulsive behaviors in search for contentment resulting in all sorts of addiction.
• Gambling, Eating, Drinking, Shopping, Sexual pleasure, Exercising and Sleeping just to name a few can quickly get out of hand because of the inability for some to be contented.
• It’s as if one keeps on eating and never feels full.
• The Bible has a simple solution for those who wish to live a fulfilled and contented life.
• Today in the light of the Bible, we will consider the effect of contentment.

LEARNING TO BE CONTENTED IN LIFE

1Ti 6:6 ¶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV)

• Example of the fisherman and the businessman

But godliness. Piety; religion. The meaning is, that real faith in God should be regarded as the greatest and most valuable acquisition.

With contentment. This word, as now used, refers to a state of mind;

• A calm and satisfied feeling;
• A freedom from murmuring and complaining.

The idea is, that “piety, connected with a contented mind is to be regarded as the real gain.”

The word contentment which is used here–autarkeia –means, properly, self-sufficiency, and is used here, in a good sense, to denote a mind satisfied with its lot.

A contented person is a person who is satisfied, joyful, and grateful even with the least material blessing.

1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

REACTION WHEN GODLINESS IS MIXED WITH CONTENTMENT

Godliness is to be:

• In good standing with God
• Being an upright person
• Being a pious person
• Being a person who practices the true religion
• A person of faith in God
• A person who lives a life beyond reproach
• A religious person inside and outside

Contentment has to do with:

• Quietness of heart
• Satisfied with life
• Pleased with God
• A sense of feeling blessed at all time
• An attitude of having no lack
• Being easily pleased
• A focus on the positive side of things
• A sense of being happy with what you get

WHEN GODLINESS IS ADDED TO CONTENTMENT IT PRODUCES GREAT GAIN

Great gain because:

• It keeps the doctor away
• It keeps anxiety away
• It keeps worry away
• It keeps greed away
• It keeps envy away
• It keeps resentment away
• It keeps low self esteem away
• It keeps covetousness away
• It keeps jealousy away
• It keeps pride away
• It keeps prison away
• It keeps shame away
• It keeps anger away
• It keeps you from feeling victimized all the time
•  
• It allows you to enjoy life
• It allows you to accept your lot in life
• It allows to be a positive person
• It makes you a pleasant person to be around all the time
• It makes you a generous person
• It makes you a role model for this generation

The Bible adds up to say:

• Ps 37:16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
• Pr 15:16 ¶ Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
• Pr 16:8 ¶ Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.
• Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
• Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)

The prosperity Gospel being preached these days is anti-scriptural.

• The quest for more and more and more is not of God
• Contentment is not the absence of a yearning to achieve your dream in life
• Contentment is not a free ticket to laziness
• Contentment is not a free ticket to underachievement
• Contentment is the exhibit of a great faith in God

1Ti 6:6 ¶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

 9 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.

 10 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.

 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Romans 12:1-3  ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.Amen !