Godliness with contentment

1 Timothy 6:3-19 (TNIV) -

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.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

My thoughts -

Paul spent the first two verses of chapter 6 dealing with how slaves are to treat their masters. You would not think that such powerful language against wealth would follow. And yet here we have it.

So what do we think about godliness as financial gain? The "health and wealth" gospel has been something of a cultural mainstay for a while. Joel Olsteen is the latest pretty face promoting something like it. We like the idea that God wants us to be successful, to be secure, to be better. And there may be some validity to that, but Paul clearly seems to be refuting the idea that following God should lead to some kind of material reward here.

He says that those "who think that godliness is a means to financial gain" have been "robbed of the truth". Let's look again at what Paul writes starting with verse 6:

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.

Can we be content with what we have? Paul, earlier in the chapter, asked this of slaves. Is it too much to ask of us? Yet we constantly fall into this trap. I don't even want to get rich, I think, I just want a little more. Who doesn't? But I don't know anyone who thinks they're rich. There's always someone who has more. And yet chances are, if you're an American, compared to pretty much everyone else on the planet you already are rich. Even me, though I sometimes struggle to pay all of my bills on time.

Like my cell phone bill, for instance. Man, those smart phone plans just don't come cheap. But how could I possibly live without constant email access. Ans no, I didn't really need the Galaxy Tab I just bought but it is awfully nice to have. Especially when we travel. In the minivan with the dvd player the kids like so much. To the hotels that have to have the pool. I mean, you can't stay with kids anywhere that doesn't have a pool. That would be crazy. But Lord, all I just need is a little bit more. Not to be rich or anything. Just a little more comfortable.

So I have a pretty comfortable life. I need to be content in that. Even if all I had was a roof over my head, food to eat, and the clothes on my back Paul says I should be content. Rather than pursuing more comfort and material blessing what does Paul say I should do?

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

And as for all of the material blessings that I have? Paul tells Timothy what he should say to "rich" people like us:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

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