From 1 Timothy 6.3-10:

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing.

They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6.3-10

How does Paul describe those who don’t agree with his teaching?

Let’s Look at their descriptors:

• Do not agree to “sound” instruction
• Do not agree with godly teaching
• Conceited
• Lack understanding
• Enjoy controversies
• Robbed of the truth
• Use religion to acquire wealth
• Want to get rich
• Eager for money
• Have wandered from the faith

What do they leave behind?

• Conflict
• Broken relationships
• Bad theology – confusion about God, the Bible and Jesus Christ
• People questioning their Faith

These folks were discontented people. They were people who once had faith in Christ, but they eventually wandered from the faith because they were trying to have it both ways: intimacy with God while also pursuing the good life. They were discontent with what they had materially. They were envious of what others had because they were discontent. And their discontent led to being argumentative, arrogant and thinking they are always right.

These type of people don’t accomplish anything for God and they leave behind a trail of destruction and pain. The reason they walk a tortured path is because they are deeply discontented. They are like a salmon always swimming up stream. Their hearts were far from God because they were discontent. Their love of money led them to wander away from their faith.

Solomon wrote about being discontent in Ecclesiastes 5.10:

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.”

“Love money” means to have trust and confidence in it to provide happiness, satisfaction and financial security for the future. They very things we are commanded to turn to God for is what we attribute to money. We attribute to money capabilities which it cannot perform.

And so we’re never satisfied with the amount of money we have because we always want more happiness, more satisfaction and more financial security. We are discontented with our material things because we are trying to “have it all” – have both intimacy with God and all of the finer things and comforts which life has to offer.

What did Paul say about all of this? What was his instruction to us?

 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

What is “contentment”? Simply put, Contentment is wanting what you already have.

Contentment is a heart issue, not a wealth issue. At it’s core, being content with what we have is based on a visceral trust and respect for God and His love for us and His Word. Contentment means you have a singular love for God. Contentment means that you have found that God is enough. You don’t need material things to be happy, fulfilled and satisfied. All you need is God. Contentment means wanting what you already have.

Paul puts it this way: “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

I wonder how many of us could say that if we have just the basics – food and clothing – that we would be content with that? I suspect not very many of us. So, here is the principle for us to learn:

Becoming content with what you already have is necessary to being faithful to God as well as finding what you really want in life.

It is only through contentment that you’ll find what you really want in life. You see, the things we really want, money can’t buy. The only way we’ll ever get what we really want is to become content with the imitations that money does buy so that we can become generous with our money – investing in the Kingdom of God – laying for ourselves treasures in Heaven. If money is the root of all kinds of evil – evils which Paul mentions here in this section, then contentment is the root of all kinds of virtues:

But when we choose to be content with what we already have, then we

• Can let our money go into the Kingdom of God.
• We’ll become more concerned about the eternal destiny of the lost
• We’ll value God’s laws more than man’s laws
• We’ll value the reputation of others and guard those reputations
• We’ll value peace and unity in the body – and we’re willing to give up some of our rights to achieve this
• We’ll pursue spending time with God
• We’ll learn that most things in life really don’t matter
• Become a cheerful giver – you’ll want to give more and more – become generous and you’ll enjoy it
• We’ll find that God is enough – the things we thought were so important are really not that important at all

This reminds me of the hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, written by Helen Lemmel in England in 1918, just as WWI was ending.

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free.

His Word shall not fail you, He promised; Believe Him and all will be well;

Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

Becoming content with what you already have is necessary to being faithful to God as well as finding what you really want in life. Are you content today?

Bill English, Publisher
Bible and Business