Godliness With Contentment

If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarrelling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain, but godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 1 tim 6:3-10

Teaching that adds or subtracts from what Jesus taught is puffed up and built on man and his own dilusions. Disputing scripture is a waste of time. The only benefit is self-glorification.

Paul tells us where these disputes come from: envy, quarrelling, slander, evil suspicions and constant disagreement. Sounds like a basketful of fleshly fruit, N'est ce  pas? (Yes?)

I love the words: 'a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words.' Go Paul! Go for the jugular!

Now, let us face this: verse 5 goes on to say: 'who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.' Have you been guilty of thinking that God will bless me, if I am godly? Have you ever become annoyed at God because you have been diligent in godliness and generosity and yet you are still poor? Ha! Ha' ditto! I think many of us could put up our hands to that.

Paul goes on to say: 'but godliness with contentment is great gain.' How do we do that? By realising we brought nothing into the world and will take nothing out of it, verse 7. He goes on to say:' if we have food and clothing we will be content with these.' What? No house? No motor vehicle?

Lord have mercy on our souls! Forgive us our greed! Forgive us our lust? Forgive us our ambition! Amen! Amen!


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