June 27, 2014
NO MAN CAN EAT SIXTEEN CHEESEBURGERS!
1 Timothy 6:1-10
Tommy Horan
Central Truth
Our goal in this life is not to acquire more, but instead to focus on pursuing godliness. This pursuit leads to the greatest gain of all: a deeply satisfying life of contentment in Jesus Christ.
Key Verse | 1 Timothy 6:6–7
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
1 Timothy 6:1-10
1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants 1 6:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
False Teachers and True Contentment
Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound 2 6:3 Or healthy words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and 3 6:7 Greek for; some manuscripts insert [it is] certain [that] we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Dive Deeper | 1 Timothy 6:1-10
We live in one of the most prosperous times in human history. Most of us own at least one car and have rooms in our homes dedicated to storing our possessions. Yet, the vast majority of us still want more. We feel like we need whatever is new, improved, bigger, better, and shinier. And you can put me at the top of that list. Just as I was going to be hungry again regardless of how many cheeseburgers I ate in one sitting, my appetite for stuff is never satisfied. Why else would I have four perfectly working cell phones in my desk drawer, yet still feel like I need to upgrade?
Paul correctly diagnoses my problem in 1 Timothy 6 -- it's discontentment. I'm dissatisfied with what God has given me. Despite the fact that I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach, I often feel like I deserve more. In the midst of my self-centeredness, I forget that all I truly deserve as a result of my sin is eternal separation from God (i.e., hell). In His grace and mercy, however, God has provided me not only with material possessions and daily essentials, but, more importantly, with a means to be reconciled to Him through His Son Jesus.
So how do we live in such a way that we remain content in God's provision? Paul tells us the secret to fleeing discontentment and discovering great gain is godliness (verse 6). When we pursue godliness, there is no room in our life for dissatisfaction or discontentment. We instead fill our lives with righteousness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (verse 11). It also allows us margin in our lives to meet the needs of others (verses 17-18). If I am focused on how I can use what God has given me to further His kingdom and not my own, I suddenly don't have time to become discontent.
Let's quit chasing after the material and focus our hearts and our minds on the eternal.
Discussion Questions
1. When have you been the most content in your life?
2. Has an increase in your standard of living led to increased contentment?
3. What are some practical ways you can fight discontentment this week by helping meet the needs of others?