Main Thought for the Week [5.24.21]
I Timothy 6:6-10: 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.
Main Thought:
First of all, let me start off by saying that I don’t feel that it is wrong to have money or material things. I also don’t feel that money is evil in and of itself either. Nonetheless this week’s Weekly Word is not about money- it’s about being content. Now, this is an interesting passage in I Timothy 6. And, this is actually where I was just choosing one verse, verse 6, to spend this week talking about being content. However, when I began to read the entire passage I started to see numerous applications. And, since this is the main thought to start off the week, I will start with a few of these applications. First, Paul is writing to Timothy, a young man in the faith called of God to be a preacher. He brings the issue of money and material things into the topic of being content. I believe that Paul is telling Timothy that the quest of anything without God being the center source of fulfillment and joy, can be a trap. I also believe that He is saying, allow God to be the source of all that you have or desire to have. Take note that in verse thirteen of this same chapter Paul says this to Timothy: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” In other words, pursue the things of God, those things that produce true fulfillment. Food will run out. Clothes will wear out. Money will will cease to be available at times. Houses will eventually fall down and cars will rust or fall apart after a period of time. Most things don’t last forever and being content with things, especially things that are temporal and fleeting doesn’t last forever either. Contentment is a choice and this week I want to talk to you about 5 ways that you can learn to be content.
5 Ways to Learn to be Content:
- Realize that contentment doesn’t come naturally for most.
- Understand that there is a difference in being content and in being satisfied.
- Be thankful for what you have.
- Don’t compare.
- Know that contentment is God’s plan for you.
So, let’s look at number one> 1. Realize that contentment doesn’t come naturally for most. I think it is human nature to desire more. Human desires and cultural consumption support the fact that most people aren’t satisfied with what they have and they typically desire more of something. There is nothing wrong with wanting more and there is nothing wrong with desiring to have something better. However, if you are never content and always trying to collect and consume more, you may need to think about your choices and motives. We live in a throwaway society and we have been trained to have a consumer mentality. What this leads to is a lack of commitment and a sense of feeling unfulfilled, that is, without the possibility of more of what we want. I want your contentment and peace to come from God and from knowing of His love for you. Paul says, in Philippians 4:11: “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content.” Remember, he was writing this from a jail cell. I think what happens is when you experience enough of things that don’t last and of the things that don’t satisfy, and then you taste of the things that God had for you- you experience a sense of true contentment. Notice that Paul said, I have LEARNED to be content. I really think a key to being content is to focus on what you do have, instead of focusing on what you don’t have! I also believe that you have to learn to be content. Life has a way of teaching us what is most important and what truly matters and what is truly valuable. It is my desire for you that by the end of this week through prayer and soul searching and through these 5 concepts, that you will have a greater sense of contentment and peace in your life. See you tomorrow!
Key: Focus on what you do have, instead of focusing on what you don’t have!
