The Joy of Contentment 1 Timothy 6:3-10

-Contentment with Christian Character is the Key to Faithful Perseverance

Philip Parham tells the story of a rich industrialist who was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat. "Why aren't you out there fishing?" he asked.

"Because I've caught enough fish for today," said the fisherman. "Why don't you catch more fish than you need?' the rich man asked. "What would I do with them?"

"You could earn more money," came the impatient reply, "and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you'd have a fleet of boats and be rich like me."

The fisherman asked, "Then what would I do?" "You could sit down and enjoy life," said the industrialist. "What do you think I'm doing now?" the fisherman replied as he looked placidly out to sea.

I. Discontent is at the Heart of False Teaching vv. 3-5

In our passage this morning, Paul has shifted gears again and he goes back to addressing the issue of false teaching in the church, the “different doctrine”

What is it that defines the different doctrine?

It does not agree with the words of Jesus:

It denies the Gospel in favor of legalistic teaching

It is focused on genealogy and lineage, or obedience to a set of principles rather than salvation by grace through faith in Jesus

It denies the teaching that accords with godliness

This may seem counterintuitive, but this kind of teaching does not promote the development of godly character

In fact, this kind of anti-gospel teaching only produces worse and worse forms of lawlessness. But why?

At the heart of the false teaching is a broken foundation!

False doctrine comes from a position of arrogance and ignorance

These teachers are marked by their conceit. They are puffed up with pride

They are also marked by ignorance. They don’t really understand the salvation that comes as a gift of grace. They can’t!

False doctrine is born out of a desire for conflict

These teachers have a craving for controversy; rather than accepting the faithful teachings of Timothy, they are compelled to press on to something different

This attack on the sound doctrine taught by the church’s pastor produces all kinds of bad behavior and disunity within the church

False doctrine is born out of a discontent

At the heart of all of this is a lot of self-seeking; they believe that promoting their own kind of teaching is a way to gain

They may gain financially, in influence, or in power, but the goal is gain, to elevate their own position

We have to understand the rotten root of false teaching and be honest about it and confront it wherever we find it!

Matthew 6:24

[24] “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (ESV)

300 Illustrations for Preachers Student Keeps Tuition Money and Drops out of School

It started simply for Danielle Shea, a Quinnipiac University student. When her tuition money from her parents arrived, she kept the money but dropped out of school. Her scheme worked until it was time for graduation. To keep her parents from discovering her dishonesty, she went a step further. She called in a bomb threat to the school in the hopes of stopping the graduation ceremony. Police arrested her and filed charges.

Shea was “corrupted with the lusts of deceit,” and was led deeper and deeper into the deception.

II. Character and Contentment are Keys to Faithfulness vv. 6-8

Now, Paul throws a huge contrast out there:

It turns out that godliness is not means to gain;

It is gain in and of itself if it is partnered with contentment

In what sense is godliness with contentment great gain?

It is great gain because godliness is a gain that you can take with you

The kinds of riches that we pursue in this life are completely temporal

We cannot take them out of this life with us; in fact, they are immaterial in the scope eternity

Godly character and the fruits of godliness are eternal

Further, contentment is great gain because it transforms how we face the experiences of life

Paul puts it simply: If we have food and clothing we will be content

If you are anything like me, my discontent is never over the fundamental needs of life

If I have the kind of contentment that is found in Christ, I will have a joy in every kind of circumstance

That is greater gain than you can possibly imagine.

For so many of us, we are convinced that if we just had a “little more” it would resolve the longings present in our heart

When our contentment is in Christ, we actually resolve the issue of discontent and it transforms how we are able to face every challenge

Philippians 4:11–13

[11] Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)

III. Beware of the Desire that Brings Destruction vv. 9-10

At this point, I think a lot of us want to object: truth be told, all of us want financial gain. What’s the problem with that?

Truth be told, the desire for riches is a snare, a trap

On the surface, it’s completely morally neutral and possibly even a good thing, trying to earn and provide for those that you love

The desire for riches is a snare for this reason:

It’s never enough and you will continue to chase more

The desires become increasingly harmful and senseless; you will do almost anything for more

They plunge you into ruin and destruction; you are no longer building a life, you’ve destroyed it!

The love of money, not the money itself, is the root of all kinds of evil:

The love of money will cause you to miss out on the blessings of righteousness, because it will keep you from following God’s leadership into spiritual fruitfulness

The love of money will lead you to unrighteousness, as you compromise for the sake of more

The love of money will lead you to depart from the faith; when Jesus is no longer enough for you, you will spend your life chasing anything else to satisfy!

Ultimately, the love of money is a self-inflicted wound. It is a kind of spiritual suicide!

One day a certain old, rich man of a miserable disposition visited a rabbi, who took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window. "Look out there," he said. The rich man looked into the street. "What do you see?" asked the rabbi. "I see men, women, and children," answered the rich man. Again the rabbi took him by the hand and this time led him to a mirror. "Now what do you see?" "Now I see myself," the rich man replied.

Then the rabbi said, "Behold, in the window there is glass, and in the mirror there is glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, but you see only yourself."