1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 6. And Paul says, but godliness
with contentment is great gain. Godliness with contentment. What
is this godliness here? What's Paul talking about godliness? Well, first of all, it's a true
knowledge of God's grace in Christ. That constitutes godliness, being
in Christ and having a true knowledge of his person and work. John
said, the Son of God has come and given us an understanding
that we may know him that is true, that we may know God, him
that is true, and we're in him that is true. And this is the
true God. This is the true God, and this
is eternal life. to know Christ and God who sent
Christ. True godliness is to know Him. And then turn over to 2 Timothy
chapter 1. I want you to read this along
with me. And Paul is writing to the young minister, Timothy. Paul's sitting in jail in Rome,
and he's writing. This is one of his last epistles,
and he's writing to this young pastor. And he says to him in
verse 8, now this is true godliness. Verse 8, 2 Timothy 1, Timothy,
be not thou therefore ashamed of the gospel of our Lord, nor
of me his prisoner, but be thou a partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God, who hath saved
us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ before the world began, but is now made
manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who
hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and
an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles." Now listen, "...for
the which cause, for this gospel, I suffer these things. Nevertheless,
I am not ashamed. I know whom I have believed."
This is what they just sang for us. I know whom I have believed. I know him. And I am persuaded
that he is able to keep that which I've committed to him against
that day. That's true godliness. You can't
have godliness without God. See what I'm saying? True godliness
is to know him and Christ whom he sent. But secondly, godliness. Let's go back to the text now.
Godliness with contentment. True godliness is not a mere
head knowledge of this gospel. Not a mere head knowledge of
this gospel or the doctrines of the gospel. But this godliness
is an inward heart experience which produces the fruit of God's
Spirit. It's Christ in you, that's the
hope of glory. Turn with me to the book of Galatians,
Galatians chapter 5. This godliness is a knowledge
of His grace in Christ, and this godliness is an experience of
His grace in Christ. Not just the knowledge alone,
but it's a knowledge and an experience. Now, Galatians 5. beginning with
verse 19. Now the works of the flesh are
manifest. Which of these? Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, in-beings,
murder, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. That's the works
of the flesh. That's the product of the natural
life, of the which I tell you before, as I've also told you
in time past, that they that which do these things, live in
this direction, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit
of the Spirit is love and joy. and peace, and longsuffering,
and gentleness, and goodness, and faith, and meekness, humility,
and temperance, against such there is no love. And they that
are Christ that belong to him have crucified this flesh with
the affection and the lust. If we live in the Spirit, let
us also walk in the Spirit. Now that's godliness. It's a
knowledge of Christ. It's an experience within the
heart of the grace of Christ. And then thirdly, what is this
true godliness? It's a work of God. That's a
continuing work. A work that goes on through a
man and woman's entire life. A work of producing a new creature
conformed to the image of Christ. A person with a peaceful disposition. A person with a gracious conduct
toward others. Who looks not on his own things
alone, but on the things of others. Who loves others. who cares for
others. That's godliness. So godliness,
here in verse 6, godliness with contentment is a knowledge of
the grace of God, an experience in the heart of the grace of
God, and a demonstration outwardly of the grace of God. It's not
all done at once, it's God works in you. He said, for by grace
are you saved through faith and that and all of you says it's
the gift of God and not of works lest any man should boast but
we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus on two good works. All right now, notice the second part, but godliness
with contentment is great gain. This word contentment. Let's
look at it a moment. Contentment. Oh, how we covet contentment. This position, this spirit, this
life with contentment, he says is great gain. It's the greatest
treasure that a person can possess. In Christ, with this contentment,
we have everything worth having. His sacrifice is sufficient.
His love and presence is sufficient. His grace is sufficient. Turn
to Psalm 103, and this is what David said about it. Psalm 103. Psalm 103 verse 1, listen. Bless
the Lord. Oh my soul, all that is within
me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and
forget not all His benefits. He forgiveth our iniquities.
He healeth all thy diseases. He redeemeth our life from destruction. He crowneth thee with loving
kindness and tender mercies. He satisfy thy mouth with good
things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle. And Paul
said in Philippians 4, 19, but my God shall supply all your
needs according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus.
Therefore, the believer is content. He's content with his lot in
life. He's content with his place in
the world. He's content with his duties,
his responsibilities, he's content with his gifts, he's content
with the Lord's provisions, he's content with his possessions,
he's content with the Lord's love, he's content with the Lord's
sacrifice, and he's content with his family, his church family. And verse 7 said, gives us the
reason why we're content. This is why the believer is content
with these spiritual blessings, for we brought nothing into this
world. This is why the believer is satisfied
with his lot and content with Christ because earthly possessions
and honors and position value after this life. He says, we
brought nothing into this world. Job said, we came into this world
naked. There's one thing we brought
into this world, sin. We were born in sin. Naked, I
came from my mother's womb. I brought nothing into this world.
And listen, and it's certain we'll take nothing out. Earthly possessions, earthly
honors, earthly glory, earthly fame, earthly positions have
no value after death. But I tell you, to be forgiven
of sin, to be an heir of Christ, to be a son of God, to be accepted
in the beloved, I'll take something out of this world. Eternal life. Turn to Romans chapter 8, verse
16. Romans 8, 16. Listen to this. The Spirit himself beareth witness
with our spirit that we are children of God. And if we are children,
then we are heirs, heirs of God. It gives a father and mother
that are well off in this world's goods. And they have two children. And those children know that
they're heirs of that mother and father. And when that mother
and father pass on, they're going to have all of these things that
their mother and father leaves to them. They're sure of that. I'm an heir of God. He said,
I have an inheritance that's undefiled, incorruptible, paid
it not away, reserved in heaven, that I'm going to someday. And
that's what he's talking about here. I'm an heir of God. I'm
a joint heir with Christ. If so be that we suffer with
Him that we may be glorified, also glorified together. I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. That's why we're
content. We brought nothing into this
world. And when we die and they put us in the coffin, we're not
going to take one single thing that we earned or bought or merited or accomplished We're
just dead. This old body is just going back
into the dust from whence it came and nothing, nothing that
we accomplished on this earth in any shape, form or fashion,
materially or secularly or politically or any other is going to live
after this life. But the believer is going to
live in Christ eternally. That's why godliness with contentment
is great gain. And how do you get that contentment?
Well, listen to me. Listen to what I say there. As
soon as a person really learns this, that there's nothing, absolutely
nothing in this world that's worth having, because it won't
last. As soon as we learn that the
passion of this world fadeth away, fadeth away, as soon as
we learn that we brought nothing in this place and we're going
to take nothing out unless we have Christ, then that person
ceases to be overly concerned about this flesh, this body,
our earthly possessions, our worldly honor, what people think,
and we become dedicated to one end. that lay hold on eternal
life. That's when you become content
with the Word, content with the Gospel, content with the family,
content with what God's given you, content with what God's
made you, content with the gifts God's given you, content with
who you are and where you are and what you have. You're content. Because your happiness and glory
is reserved in heaven. That's right. Let me read you
over here in 1 Corinthians 15. This is what I'm looking for.
This is what I'm interested in. This is what I'm really interested
in, and you are too. That's why we're content. 1 Corinthians
15, 42. Listen. So also is the resurrection of
the dead. It's sown in corruption. But
in Christ, it's raised in incorruption. But the man who's not in Christ, corruption still. He that is
holy, let him be holy still. He that's unholy, Let him be
unholy still. That's one of the last verses
in Revelation. He that's filthy, let him be
filthy still. He that's corrupt, let him be
corrupt still. He that's unholy, let him be
unholy still. Boy, our prospects are corruption
into incorruption. Listen. It's sown in dishonor,
it will be raised in glory. It's sown in weakness, you'll
be raised in power. If it's on a natural body, you'll
be raised a spiritual body. No, I didn't bring anything in
this world, naturally, physically, spiritually. But I'm going to
take something out. I'm going to take a new heart,
a new nature, a new name, a new kingdom, a new covenant,
and new glory. We'll be like Christ. Now that's
contentment. And boy, he says that's great
gain. That's great gain. Great gain. Look at verse 8. Therefore, having food and rainwater. Therefore, having food to eat.
And we do have it, don't we? Boy, I tell you, that's one thing
we can do when we sit down at our wonderful, lavish tables
and look about us. We can bow our heads and thank
God, food to eat. Good food. Having clothes to
wear. Clothes to wear. Raincoat to
wear. Having a house to live in and sleep in. Be content. Content, John Newton said, with
beholding his face, my awe to his pleasure resigned. No changes
of season or place would make any change in my mind. While
blessed with a sense of his love, a palace, a toy would appear,
and prisons would palaces prove if Jesus would dwell with me
there. Godliness to know Him. Godliness
to experience His grace in the heart. Godliness to feel some
measure of growth in Christ and a desire to walk with Him. With
contentment. Why wouldn't we be content? Why
wouldn't we be content? Now just tell me, let's rebuke
ourselves. Why wouldn't we be content? Listen to these four
things. God has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. Isn't that what he said
in Ephesians 1? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the
heavenlies in Christ. That'll make us content. Secondly,
we ought to be content because he said, I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. Lo, I'm
with you always. even to the end of the earth.
That ought to make us content. Thirdly, we ought to be content. He said everything that takes
place in your life, all things, will work together for your good. Who love God will call according
to his purpose. Everything. The good things and
the bad things, what the world calls good things and bad things, Everything works together for
good to God's elect, God's people. Why wouldn't I be content? Fourthly,
why wouldn't I be content? Listen to this. He says over
here in 1 Corinthians 3. 1 Corinthians 3 verse 21. Therefore
let no man glory in men, for all things are yours. Whether
it's Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death,
or things present, or things to come, they're all yours. And
you're Christ, and Christ is God. Now why wouldn't I be content? Having food and rain water, content. Because I have Christ. But if
I have the most glorious palace and castle in this world and
have not Christ, if I have everything the world
can give, what will profit a man if he gains this world and loses
his soul? Now watch this next verse. But
they that will be rich, they that will be rich fall into temptation. and a snare, and into many foolish
and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
But preacher, that's not talking to me because I'm not rich. Wait
a minute now, hold on. Hold on. I'm sure many of you said that
when you read that verse before. I'm not rich. I'm not rich, but
you're wrong. We are rich. Everybody here is rich. We're
the world's richest people. We live in the lap of luxury.
Every single one of us, I'm rich and you're rich. We're rich in freedom. I've been
to countries where they're not free. We're rich and free. We go and come as we please. We've got a pretty sassy attitude
about it too. I've been to places where you
had to show your passport everywhere you went and answer questions
to fellas standing there holding shotguns and rifles. We're rich. Secondly, we're rich in food. Get you a buggy and push it around
Kroger's supermarket sometime. And then I'll take you over to
Russia. They don't even have buggies. They have little pieces
of bread about like this and little pieces of salami. Nothing
to eat. Nothing but potatoes and cheese
and a little bit of bread. Then you have to go over here
and pick out what you want and then go pay for it and get a
slip and then come back and line it up and give you a slip to
get that little piece of bread. We're rich. We're rich in houses
and land. Everybody here has got a house.
You got acreage. You got land. We live better
than kings lived 400 years ago. Isn't that right? better than
kings. You're rich in conveniences.
You get up in the morning, not a man here builds a fire. You
push a button and the house is warm. You push another button
and it's cool. You don't even open your garage
door. You push a button and it goes up for you. Rich. That's right. You women don't wash like my
mama washed with octagon soap on a rug board. down by the creek
on a three-legged pot, poking it with an old stick. You stick
it in a washing machine, push a button, and go on up and read
the magazine. That's right. Conveniences, luxuries. We're rich in communications.
You can pick up the telephone and talk to anybody all over
the world. We're rich. We're rich in education. We're rich in science. We're
rich in medicine. You can go to the hospital and
do $80,000 worth of work on you. It doesn't cost you a dime. Somebody
else pays for it. You're rich. You're rich in entertainment. Used to be we kids would go to
a circus. You don't take a kid to a circus anymore. They'll
sit there and yawn while they're having that. They've seen everything.
They've done everything. Try to find them a birthday present.
They've got everything. We're rich in free time. We got
more free time than anybody ever had before. We got more. We go
on vacations hundreds and hundreds of miles away. Families growing
up when I grew up never knew what a vacation was. Y'all remember
that? I never inside a restaurant that's 15 years old. Some of
you that weren't either. Poor. We're rich. Basically lazy too. Most folks
are. We're rich in opportunity. These
boys and girls sitting out here, if one of them wants to be a
doctor, he can be a doctor. If he wants to be a teacher, he
can be a teacher. It's just a matter of what he wants to do. We're rich. Opportunity
is there. And so we're the subjects Paul
is talking about right here and warning us about giving, now
watch it, about an unwholesome interest in this material thing. An unwholesome interest in these
things. He's warning us. There's a danger
in comfort. There's a danger in prosperity.
There's a danger in luxury. There's a danger in entertainment.
There's a danger in worldliness. There's a danger in materialism.
That danger is being taken up with these things. I'm telling
you the truth. Being taken up with these things
instead of using them as a means which God has provided. They're
just means. They're just buttons. They're
just cars. They're just houses. They're just clothes. They're
just shoes. It's just footwear. That's all
it is. It's not something to spend your life looking at and
studying and and wearing the best, and having the best, and
keeping the best. That's not where it's for. It's
to keep your feet off the ground. A car is to get from one place
to the other. A house is a place to stay out
of the rain. Food is food to fill your stomach
to keep you from being hungry. Money is to spend to buy something
worth keeping. It's not the end. It's not the
goal. That's what he's warning us about.
God provided these things as a means, not as the end, not
as the goal, not to be occupied with, not to be taken up with. They that would be rich, they
that would hold on to these things and make them the end, the goal,
fall into temptation and a snare into many foolish, hurtful lusts,
which drown men. Listen, this is a snare of Satan. It's a trap filled with foolish,
hurtful lust. It brings us into companionship
with bad companions, bad influence. And we get taken up with worldly
trinkets and never realize that they're taking over. They're
taking us. We're not using them. They're
engulfing us. They're becoming, instead of
just means, they're becoming the end. That's what's dangerous.
That's what he's talking about. And it's interesting that he
uses water. Now watch this. Listen to me.
He said people that lose sight of the fact that, back here it
says, having food and rain, be content. We couldn't hear. But they that would be richer fall into temptation and a snare
and the many foolish hurtful lusts which drown men, drown
men, drown them. Now listen, Paul
talks of the danger of being taken up with these things as
an end and a goal instead of a means, and he uses water. And
that water is one of the last most precious, precious necessities. Water. Water to drink, it's wonderful. When it's used for the right
purpose, when it's used, it's wonderful to drink, to cook to do your laundry, to bathe,
water your garden. Water is wonderful, but water
can be treacherous. Water can be treacherous, too
much of it. It can be fatal. When a person
finds himself out in the water with no rock on which to stand,
in the depths, surrounded by the water. How did I get out
here?" And that which is good sweeps
him away. And I've seen, I've seen some preachers who
ought to know better, and some people who ought to know better, just get enamored with the world
and the things of this world and get, just drown. Just drown. I had a preacher friend who passed
through a very, very small church and, uh, but a church that was
a good church, he's a good preacher. And he asked me, he said, uh,
I just, I just don't make enough money to to really get by on,
you think it would be all right if I worked a day or two a week?
I said, yeah, I do. I had a preacher ask me this
just two weeks ago. I said, I'm warning you now. I'm warning you. Use it and don't
let it get you. Well, he knew he was good at
his work. And he went to work. And the money started coming
in. He worked one day a week, then he worked two days a week. And he had a lot of things he
wanted to buy, and he worked three days a week. And then he
went to four days a week. Then he went to five days a week.
Then he went to six days a week. And there's no, you know where
he is now, he's out of the ministry. You see, that's what I'm saying,
he drowned, he drowned. He was good at what he did. He
was skilled. God gave him skill. He was a
master at what he did. But he didn't have sense enough
to use it. He drowned in it, just like he
lost his footing. He just swept away. And I'm telling you, it's treacherous. And before you know it, you find
yourself out there and it just There used to be an old song,
you're drifting too far from the shore. And you get in with the wrong
people, and you get in with this mechanical world, and you get
in with doing things and making things, and you get, it's wonderful
if you can stay with the gospel and stay, put first things first. Use this water, but don't get
off the rock, because it'll take you away. and you'll be gone
before you realize it. That's what water, that's what
a fella gets out on the tube, he floats around on that, whatever
they call that, raft, you know, and first thing he wakes up,
he's too far away. And the wave gets him, and he
drowns. Isn't that what he's talking
about here? Look at the next verse. For the love of money,
is the root of all evil. The love of money is the root
of all evil, which some, while some coveted after, they've erred
from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. We're
on the same subject here now. And the word money here, don't
limit it to silver and gold, it's not silver and gold alone.
You'll miss the message if you do. Money can be used for great The root of the evil, now what's
it? Here's the root of all evil. It's the love. It's the love of anything in
this carnal world that overshadows my love for him. That's what
he's saying here. It doesn't have to be cash. It can be somebody. It can be
something. It can be lots of things. You
see, love is a heart emotion. Love is a condition. Love is
an emotion. Love is a craving, a desire,
a yearning, an affection for an object. So if my desire and
my affection and craving is directed towards possessions, that's the
root of the evil. And I let that craving interfere
with my relationship with my Lord and His Word. Or I might
crave a position. I might want to climb in the
eyes of men, be somebody important. Preachers give this too. Not
just folks in the secular world. A preacher gets his eye on a
bigger church. He's in trouble. You cut his
message do various things to attain that goal. See, that's
a craving. That's a love of position, a
love of power, a love of honor. Maybe I'm not satisfied where
I am, with whom I live, to whom I'm married. I am, darling. But suppose I'm not, and I want
something else. I'm in trouble. The love of money,
the love of position, the love of possessions, the love of power. This was Satan's sin. He said,
I'll exalt my throne to a little higher place. You know what he
said? Above the stars of God. Wasn't this Adam's sin? Satan
said, you'll be like God. Don't be happy where you are.
Don't be content where you are. Don't be content with what you
have. You can climb a little higher. Be a little better. Do
something greater. And he fell. Wasn't this Israel's
trouble in the wilderness? They murmured against God's providence.
Turn to Numbers 14. Let me read that to you. Unhappy
with what God had given them. Unhappy with their state of being.
Listen, Numbers 14, verse 26. Numbers 14, 26, the Lord spake
to Moses and Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil
congregation which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings
of the children of Israel which murmur against me. Say unto them,
As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as you have spoken in my
ears, I will speak in yours. Your carcasses will fall in the
wilderness. See, that's thirst and desire
and love For these things. Seek ye first the kingdom of
God, His righteousness. All these things will be added
to you. So we go back to my text. I'll quit in a minute. Back to this statement. Godliness.
Godliness. Knowledge. Know Him. Love Him. Walk with Him. Wherever I am. Whoever I am. with contentment is great gain.
Great gain. So verse 11, Thou man of God,
we're talking to believers here. Woman of God, child of God, flee
these things. Flee what things? Murmuring against
God's providence. Be content with what you have.
Paul says, I've learned in what sort of state I am to be content.
I know how to abound, I know how to be abased, I know how
to have plenty, I know how to do that. Three of these things, a resolution
to be popular and powerful and wealthy, don't make that resolution.
I'm going to do this. I'm going to do that. If God
will, I'll do that. If it's in his providence and
purpose. Avoid entanglements with carnal people. I warn you, I just, I know you
have to work in some places and you have to, the Lord Jesus said,
I don't pray Lord that you take my people out of the world, I
pray you keep them from evil. But don't get entangled with
people who are carnally minded. Bad companions corrupt good manners. Don't get involved in a program
with people. that's not glorifying to God. Plead these things. Plead worldly
pride and personal importance. We're not important. We're important
to our Lord. He bought us with his blood.
And we're important to one another as children of God and believers.
But here's the things. He said, you plead those things
and listen. Follow these things. Look at these things he lists
here. Follow righteousness. Follow righteousness. The righteousness
of Christ imputed in a righteous godly life. Follow that. Follow
true godliness. Follow true godliness. Follow
faith. Follow after it. Seek faith.
Lay hold on eternal life. Study it. Meditate upon it. Follow love. Patience. Learn to wait on God. Sit still. Be patient. Humility. Our egos have just
got to go. They've got to be crucified.
And fight the good fight of faith. And lay hold on eternal life.
Whereunto thou art called and hast professed a good profession
before many witnesses. Take this to heart tonight that
I've tried to preach to you. Take into account what's really
valuable. Brought nothing into this world, we'll take nothing
out. But I tell you, God brought you
into this world in sin and washed you and cleansed you and justified
you, brought you to know his Son. gave you life everlasting. Oh, I tell you, be content. Be content. Rest. Wait on Him. Let this well go. Just leave
her go. All right, let's see number 51.