Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)
Godliness with contentment is not merely gain, but great gain! Paul says, “If you have godliness with contentment, it will be a huge advantage to you.” Why?
Paul gives four reasons. He speaks about “people who want to get rich” in verse 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” (6:7). You may get rich, but you cannot stay rich. You cannot keep what you gain in this world.
You will encounter powerful temptations
“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction… The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (6:9, 10). Set your heart on money and you will expose yourself to powerful temptations that end up ruining many people.
You may wander from the faith
“Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith” (6:10). In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus spoke about seed that is choked by thorns and thistles. The seed is God’s Word. The thorns and thistles include: “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.
You will experience great sorrow
“Some people, eager for money, have… pierced themselves with many griefs” (6:10). Money is a great servant but a terrible master. If you set your heart on money, money will break your heart.
Which of these reasons seems strongest to you right now? Why? Which one seems weakest to you today? Why?
