Saturday, January 21, 2012

1 Timothy 6:6-10 Godliness with Contentment

Vs. 6-10 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Having rejected Godless greed the Apostle Paul now expounds Godly contentment, which is great gain (vs. 6). For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content (vs. 7-8). Now by stating such the Apostle Paul is not preaching asceticism, for there is no virtue in self-imposed hardship and misery. Rather Paul is preaching Godliness with contentment (consider Prov. 23:4-5; 30:7-9) which is great gain for us all, and of course is the antidote to covetousness, as the Lord Jesus warns us all: "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Luke 12:15
Consider than that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of heaven is our inheritance and is our eternal riches. For it is Jesus Christ whose Presence, Person and Life within us is immeasurable in value, and will be the most prized possession a person will have in the Day of the Lord's judgment (Mark 8:36-9:1). For it is by Jesus Christ that we not only receive remission of all our sins; the moment we believe, but we are also brought to Holy Spirit life and into God's Eternal Presence. And thus we experience not only God's grace, mercy and kindness, but also God's eternal love, joy, peace in and through our lives here and now. For when you have a personal relationship with God by faith in Jesus Christ He changes everything (John 4:14; 6:35). While discontentment only breeds covetousness, which is a sin of idolatry (Job 31:24-28; Col. 3:5); because it places ones own desires for things, stature, or pleasure before God and ultimately other people's welfare (Ex 20:17). Thus it closes ones heart to the heart of God, and shuts ones eyes to the gospel (consider Matt. 6:24; 13:22; Luke 12:15-21; 16:19-31; Titus 2:11-14 etc.). Therefore covetousness not only takes away ones own life; and the Spirit seeds of life sown in the individuals heart, as people given over to it spend their lives in their never ending pursuits for more (Prov. 1:19; Ecc. 4:7-8; James 1:9-11; James 4:13-14 etc.). But the Scriptures also warn us that covetousness breeds all manner of violence, injustice and corruption within the individual, as well as the societies ordered by it. And thus ultimately brings such into the judgment of God (consider Psalm 10:3; Jer. 6:10-19; vs. 13; 8:8-12; vs. 10; 51:10; Ezek. 22:12-13; 28:16; Micah 2:1-5 vs.2; 3:11-12; 7:3; Hab. 1:6; Rom. 1:29; Phil. 3:18-19; James 4:2-3; 5:1-6; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Jude 11). Therefore we as believers, who are saved by the grace of God, are to shun it with all our being (Ex. 20:17; Ps. 119:136; 1 Cor. 5:11; 6:9-11; Eph. 5:3; 5; 1 Thess. 2:5; Heb. 13:5). For love of the world and the things within it, is not the pathway to believers sanctification, unity and peace (1 John 2:15-17; 3:16-18).

For again no where does Jesus promise us earthly riches when we follow Him. On the contrary we must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of Heaven (John 15:18-25; Acts 14:22; Rom. 5:3-5; 2 Cor. 6:3-10; Eph. 3:13; 2 Thess. 1:3-12; Heb. 10:32-39; 11:4-40). For daily picking up our cross and following Jesus Christ says nothing other then coveting the will of God for our lives (Luke 9:23-27; 1 John 2:15-17). Now in His parable of the sower the Lord Jesus Christ warns of the deceitfulness of riches which choke out the Word and it becomes unfruitful in peoples lives (Matt. 13:22). In fact if you search the gospels Jesus gives far more warnings about people’s covetous desires for mammon then He does about blessing His followers with it (Matt. 6:19-24; 21:12-13; Mark 8:34-38; 10:23-25; Luke 1:53; 6:24-26; 12:16-21; 27-34; 16:1-13, 14-15, 19-31; 18:22-23; John 2:14-16; 12:4-6). Therefore beware of anyone who promises you God’s financial blessings in your life because you support their ministry. Or those who make following Christ and the places where His Name abides refuges for furthering ones own monetary ends. For God is not in the business of making us financially rich to satisfy our greedy nature. He's in business of Kingdom building and furthering His agenda through richly blessing people’s lives first by Holy Spirit regeneration then by our living out Christ’s commandments to walk and live in love by which greater change and blessing comes to all (Acts 3:26). "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Vs. 9-10

Word Illumination:
foolish: ajnovhto~ is the antithesis of perceiving or understanding; it is used in verse nine in regards to ones failure to perceive the spiritual and moral ruin and destruction that comes on all those whose love for money drives their lives and "faith" as verse ten makes clear: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

Note: This is a draft version

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