Godliness with Contentment

THE BENEFITS OF CONTENTED GODLINESS

1 Timothy 6:3-8

I. Godliness is being like God

A. “Character and conduct determined by the principle of love or fear of God in the heart”

1. An attitude lived with respect and reverence toward God, and a commitment to faithfully follow His word.

B. The opposite: Ungodliness: “a deliberate withholding from God His due of prayer and service”

1. Titus 2:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

2. We have to be willing to deny not just ungodliness (we all want to be more like God), but worldly lusts (our base, selfish desires: wealth, pleasure, honor, fleshly indulgence, etc.).

3. God’s grace teaches us to deny these things. How glorious that we are saved by grace so that we can do this, and become Godly!

II. Godliness is gain - 1 Timothy 4:7-8

A. Material Benefit

1. A Godly person is honest: Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honestin the sight of all men.

2. A Godly person is industrious: 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

3. A Godly person is courteous: 1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

4. A Godly person is economical: John 6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

5. God takes care of the Godly: Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

6. Consider, however: to live a “godly” life for gain would not be Godly!

B. Mental Benefit (Philippians 4:7-8)

1. Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

2. Godliness demands excluding the thoughts, desires, and actions which impair the proper functioning of the mind (Intoxicants, Malice, anger, prejudice, pride, passion, anxiety (Matthew 6:25-33), fear)

3. If we THINK like God wants us to think, we will be at peace, unbothered by the storms of life.

C. Physical Benefit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

1. Jesus “grew in stature” (Luke 2:52)

2. In the ideal, Godliness gives us things that benefit physical health

2. Godliness keeps us from certain undesirable elements: intoxicants (body destroyed, shortened life); lust (mental anguish); negative passions (hate, envy, jealousy, anger); fornication (sin against the body, S.T.D.’s); anxiety (mental and even physical health)

3. Godliness pushes us toward positive elements: Temperance (2 Peter 1:5-11); Purity (1 Timothy 5:2, 2 Corinthians 7:1); a joyful character (Philippians 4:4, Proverbs 17:22)

D. Social Benefit

1. Jesus “grew in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52)

2. A Godly person has social benefits: friendliness (Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.); cheerfulness (Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.); honesty; the golden rule (Matthew 7:12); courtesy (1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous)

E. Spiritual Benefit

1. Remission of sins Acts 2:38

2. New creatures – 2 Corinthians 5:7

3. Indwelling Spirit – Acts 5:32; Galatians 4:6

4. Peace that passes understanding – Philippians 4:7

5. Joy unspeakable 1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

III. Godlinesswith Contentment is GREAT gain (1 Timothy 6:6-11)

A. We can aim to be Godly, without being content.

1. Contentment: “Self-satisfaction” - a content mind breeds peace

2. "Godliness with contentment" versus with "many sorrows." (v. 10).

3. None of our “benefits” are even enjoyable if we are constantly worrying about what we don't or can't have.

4. Are we good, moral Christians while envying the sinful lives of our friends? That's not contentment!

5. Even if we constantly worry about how things will go in the future, it isn't contentment.

B. We can aim to be content, without being Godly.

1. "Godliness" is to be pursued, contentment follows as result. (v. 11).

2. Often, in order to be “content”, we may feel the only way is to compromise the truth, and seek our way to be “content”

3. This is never true contentment! It always leads into a “snare”!

DO YOU HAVE GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT? THERE IS GREAT GAIN IN IT!