Historical Posts
1 Timothy 06:06-10 – Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain – Audio
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Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (Reading by Don Treadway)Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain
Godliness is always right, but it is not always easy to do the right thing. Sometimes peer pressure can be difficult to overcome. Other times, it may seem easier to do what’s right if one has certain things, or if one does not have other things. However, by doing what is right with what one has, one may be blessed and gain contentment.
Body
I. We must profess godliness.
A. Godliness means living a life that is respectful to God, and to oneself.
B. Earlier, Paul told Timothy that godliness is profitable for all things (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
C. God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
D. Godliness is in accordance with truth (Titus 1:1).
E. Christians must live in “holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
F. We must add godliness to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-7).
G. We can expect persecution when living godly lives (2 Timothy 3:12).
H. We must withdraw from those that suppose godliness is a means of gain, yet pursue true godliness (1 Timothy 6:5,11).
II. We must be content.
A. Paul has learned to be content in every condition (Philippians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 4:11).
B. We must be content with such things as we have (Hebrews 13:5).
C. We need God’s words more than necessary food (Job 23:12; Matthew 6:11).
D. God gives us all we need (Philippians 4:19; Psalm 23:1; Proverbs 30:7-9).
III. We have much to gain.
A. Godliness is profitable for this life, and the life that is to come (1 Timothy 4:8).
B. If a man gains the world and loses his soul, he loses everything; if he loses the world and gains his soul, he has gained everything (Matthew 16:26; Luke 12:20-21).
Conclusion
As Christians, we are to live Christ Jesus with Godliness. In so doing, we must be content with who we are and what we have. Being content and living godly lives in Christ, we have much to gain!
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Peace – audio
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All of us want peace, but many of us do not have as much of it as we’d like.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)
Paul makes three important points about peace:
Peace comes from God.
It’s the peace “of God,” not the peace “of us.” I think sometimes we miss that point. I find myself believing that if I could just get everything on the outside fixed (less stress, fewer problems, etc.), then I’d feel better on the inside. If I could do it.
But it actually works the other way around. When I accept God’s peace on the inside, his gift, it helps fix the stuff on the outside.
Peace is inexplicable.
It “surpasses all understanding,” which implies that sometimes we won’t understand why things happen the way they do. Because it’s from God, though, it can overcome inadequate explanations.
Peace protects our hearts.
“Guard” is a military term, suggesting that peace “stands on duty to keep out anything that brings care and anxiety” (R.R. Melick, p. 150).
And most of us need that. We live in an anxiety-ridden world that’s overwhelmed by the search for something to get rid of the uneasiness we’ve got in our hearts.
The answer is right in front of us.
Paul urges us to turn everything over to God, accept the peace of Christ, and let him stand guard at the door of our hearts to ward off all anxiety and worry.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Contentment – audio
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There’s a tendency to postpone contentment, or to explain away why we don’t have it right now.
The condition is so common that it’s got its own street name: the “Greener Grass Syndrome.”
Sometimes the good life is almost within grasp, just the other side of a 5% raise. Or it’s in that house across town, the pretty one with 500 more square feet, the fenced-in back yard, better school district, and less traffic. Yep, I’d be content there, I know I would.
Sometimes it’s got a chronological component.
I’ll be happy when I get these kids out of diapers. If not then, I’ll get it when they go to school. And so on.
At some point, or so I’m told, you live long enough to realize that you should have just enjoyed the good days you had instead of thinking they were just past the next milestone.
That’s why Paul always challenges me. He does not let me sit here and justify my restlessness with feeble excuses about the life I wish I had.
He says it plainly: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Seriously? How?
The key is in what he writes two verses below, a verse that’s quoted so much it’s almost become a cliché. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
I suppose those words of Paul have been framed and hung on more walls than perhaps any other verse. Everybody can quote them, but do we know what they mean? Contrary to popular opinion, they don’t mean you can do anything you set your mind to, that God will always give you the strength to do whatever you choose. What they mean is right there in the paragraph.
Jesus Christ will give you the strength to be content regardless of what’s going on around you.
Understanding that is crucial. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. No matter how hard you try, you won’t have contentment aside from the power of Jesus.
It’s also true that he’s not going to force it on you . . . there’s an “I can do” part to the verse as well. So where do you stand today? Is your contentment just around the corner but always out of reach?
Paul tells us to stop making excuses, turn our lives completely over to Jesus, and embrace commitment in him.
There’s some pretty bad stuff going on in our world right now, but I suppose it’ll always be that way.
We must choose to submit everything we have, including our disposition, to the one who saved us.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Philippians 04-11:13 Contentment – audio
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Text: Philippians 4:11-13
Introduction
A. Illustrations on contentment:
1. “Lazy Fisherman” – 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.
2. Benjamin Franklin said, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”
3. A typical supermarket in the US in 1976 stocked 9,000 articles; in 1994 it had grown to 30,000; in 2006 it is estimated to be 45,000.
B. Define contentment. The word does not mean that Christians should not continually seek to improve themselves. As someone said, “Be content with what you have, never with what you are.”
Body
I. PHILIPPIANS 4:11-12
A. Contentment is something to be learned, sought after and gained. It is not given automatically or miraculously to the Christian.
B. We can learn contentment by following the example of Paul.
1. He counted everything as loss in order to gain Christ – Philippians 3:7-8
2. He knew that all things work together for good to them who love God – Romans 8:28
3. He knew that there is nothing permanent here – 2 Corinthians 4:18
4. He knew that God is able to keep that which is committed unto Him – 2 Timothy 1:12
5. Paul was able to learn contentment because his heart was first and foremost focused on God.
C. Paul’s example of contentment is uplifting and serves as a wonderful example.
1. He knew how to be abased, to hunger, and to suffer need – 1 Corinthians 4:11- 13; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10; 11:21-28
a. At times he was without physical health – Galatians 4:13-15; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
b. Many times he was without freedom – Philippians 1:12-13
c. He was often without the admiration and approval of brethren – 2 Timothy 4:16-17
2. Also, he knew how to abound and to be full – Philippians 4:12, 15-18
a. For some, knowing how to abound is more difficult than being content in want.
b. With some, the more they get, the more they want – Ecclesiastes 5:10
c. It is not easy to go from poverty to plenty or from plenty to poverty.
d. Listen to Solomon – Proverbs 30:8-9
D. Christians, as Paul, must learn contentment through Christ – Philippians 4:13
1. We must rely on the Lord for all things; Hebrews will abundantly bless – Philippians 4:6, 7; Matthew 7:7
Conclusion
A. Let us be content with what we have.
B. And serve the Lord with a true heart.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Hebrews 13:05-06 A Call to be Content – audio
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Text: Hebrews 13:5-6
Introduction
1. In this final chapter of “The Epistle To The Hebrews”, we have noticed exhortations
a. To let brotherly love continue – Hebrews 13:1
b. To show love toward strangers – Hebrews 13:2
c. To remember those in prison and others who are mistreated – Hebrews 13:3
d. To hold marriage in honor, abstaining from fornication and adultery – Hebrews 13:4
2. We now find a warning against covetousness – Hebrews 13:5-6
a. The previous verse was a warning against “the lust of the flesh” (immorality)
b. Here we have a warning against “the lust of the eyes” (materialism)
c. Both of which are contrary to the love of the Father – 1 John 2:15-17
3. How serious is covetousness?
a. Jesus said it defiles a man, and that we should beware of it – Mark 7:21-23; Luke 12:15
b. Paul taught that covetousness:
1) Will keep one out of the kingdom of God – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
2) Like fornication, should not even be named among us – Ephesians 5:3
3) Is nothing less than idolatry – Ephesians 5:5
4. The antidote to covetousness is contentment – Hebrews 13:5b-6
a. If we are content, then we won’t be covetous
b. Contentment is therefore an important virtue for Christians to develop
1) But what is “contentment”?
2) What are the keys to being content?
Body
I. THE VIRTUE OF “CONTENTMENT”
A. CONTENTMENT DEFINED
1. The English word “content” means “desiring no more than what one has”
2. The Greek word is arkeo {ar-keh’-o}, which means “to be satisfied”
3. When one is content, they are satisfied with what they have; with no desire for more, covetousness no longer becomes a problem!
B. THE VALUE OF “CONTENTMENT”
1. From the pen of uninspired men
a. “He is richest who is content with the least.” (Socrates)
b. “He is well paid that is well satisfied.” (William Shakespeare)
c. “He who is content can never be ruined.” (Chinese Proverb)
d. “He who wants little always have enough.” (Johann Georg Zimmerman)
e. “If you are not satisfied with a little, you will not be satisfied with much.” (Unknown)
f. “The contented man is never poor, the discontented never rich.” (George Eliot)
2. Paul wrote that “…godliness with contentment is great gain.” – 1 Timothy 6:6
a. Godliness, which is godly living, expressed in devotion to God, is of great value only when accompanied with contentment
b. For as we have seen, covetousness (a lack of contentment) would render any service to God of no value
C. CONTENTMENT EXEMPLIFIED
1. In Fanny Crosby (1820-1925), a blind songwriter who wrote:
O What a happy soul am! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be; How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t! To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot and I won’t.
2. In Helen Keller (1880-1968); blind, deaf, and mute, yet she wrote:
They took away what should have been my eyes,
(But I remembered Milton’s Paradise)
They took away what should have been my ears,
(Beethoven came and wiped away my tears)
They took away what should have been my tongue,
(But I talked with God when I was young)
He would not let them take away my soul,
Possessing that, I still possess the whole.
3. In the aged prisoner, Paul the apostle:
a. Who saw how his imprisonment accomplished much good – Philippians 1:12-14
b. Who had learned contentment – Philippians 4:10-12
4. The virtue of contentment richly blessed the lives of these and countless others. But as Paul indicated, contentment is something learned
II. THE 5 KEYS TO CONTENTMENT
A. TRUSTING IN GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL CARE
1. This is the reason given in our text for us to be content – Hebrews 13:5-6
a. God has promised never to leave nor forsake us
b. With the Lord as our helper, what can man do? – 1 John 4:4
2. This is the reason Jesus gave for us not to worry – Matthew 6:25-32
a. We are of greater value to God than the birds or flowers
b. He providentially cares for them, will He not do the same for us?
c. The key to receiving this care is to put God’s will first in our lives – Matthew 6:33
3. Contentment comes, then, when we trust God will provide what we need!
B. KNOWING WHAT YOU CAN’T TAKE WITH YOU
1. As Paul discussed contentment, he pointed out certain truths – 1 Timothy 6:7
a. We brought nothing into this world
b. It is certain we can carry nothing out! (have you ever seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul)
2. Why then become anxious or worked up over things
a. That at best are only temporary
b. That will wear out, be stolen, or left behind or burned up at the coming of the Lord – 2 Peter 3:10
3. Contentment comes, then, from knowing that material things are only temporary
C. REALIZING WHAT IS TRULY “ESSENTIAL” FOR LIFE
1. Paul also revealed what are the only true “essentials” to sustain life – 1 Timothy 6:8
a. They are “food and clothing”
b. Anything beyond this is a “luxury”, for which we ought to be thankful
1) That includes “shelter”, which many believe is a necessity
2) But millions live without shelter, and such is possible with the proper clothing
2. Since God has promised to provide food and clothing (Matthew 6:25-33), we can rest knowing that our “essentials” will be provided
3. Contentment comes, then, by realizing what is truly “essential” for life, for then we will realize how richly blessed we really are!
D. UNDERSTANDING THAT MATERIAL THINGS DO NOT SATISFY
1. Solomon observed this inadequacy of material things – Ecclesiastes 5:10
a. Those who love silver (money) will never be satisfied
b. The same is true with those who love abundance (what money can buy)
2. Material things do not meet the true needs of the soul – Ecclesiastes 6:7
a. C. S. Lewis suggested that God placed a longing in man, that man might seek for God – Acts 17:26-27
b. Sadly, many people try to fulfill that longing with material things
c. They never succeed, for only one thing can fulfill it: God Himself!
3. Contentment comes, then, from understanding that material things will never provide lasting satisfaction
E. FINALLY, TRUE CONTENTMENT IS A GIFT FROM GOD
1. Here is another observation Solomon made in his search for life’s meaning:
a. The ability to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor is a gift from God – Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
b. On the other hand, many are allowed to “gather” and “collect”, but will not enjoy the fruits of their labor – Ecclesiastes 2:26b; Ecclesiastes 6:1-2
2. God has the ability to provide lasting satisfaction – Psalm 107:8-9
a. He promises to give that which truly satisfies (makes one content) – Isaiah 55:1-3
b. And in Christ, He enables one to be content – Philippians 4:11-13
Conclusion
1. The virtue of contentment is a wonderful blessing, one that comes from God Himself
a. Whose Word reveals to us:
1) The temporary nature of material things
2) The inadequacy of material things to satisfy man
3) The things that are truly essential in life
b. Who has promised to us:
1) To never leave us nor forsake us
2) To provide the true essentials in life
3) To fill our soul with that which truly satisfies
4) To enable us to enjoy the material blessings we do acquire in llfe
2. But what God has promised is contingent upon what Jesus said: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” – Matthew 6:33
3. If you desire to be truly content, you must set as your priority the Will of God.
4. Have you made His Will the primary focus of your life?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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