One more week before the majority of American begins to see some kind of shift from the stay-at-home orders they now are to observe.
Just one more week.
Will it be a big shift? Who knows at this point. However, there is no need to wait until next week to find out what changes are on the way when you can make a change to your day today.
What kind of change? You can have a great day and better week if you will embrace what Paul says will give you great profit.
You Will Profit from This
The Apostle Paul closes his instruction to Timothy. Although these words were written to Timothy, Paul intends for him to teach and apply them with others (1 Tim 6:2). Paul writes:
6 Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. (1 Timothy 6:6)
In the following verses he reminds people that none of us bring anything into the world nor will we take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we should be content.
Two observations: 1) Clearly Paul did not live in the United States! No one simply wants food and clothing. 2) He connects profit with something more than just what you have and what you can count.
Do Not Miss His Point – You’ll Be Glad
Paul sets a greater and better standard for our contentment. He makes it clear that whatever you can count, drive, live in, or otherwise play with in this world fail to be good benchmarks for contentment. If you live for those things, you will always want more. Enough will never be enough. He makes it clear that this is an issue of the heart. If you always want more, it leads you down the path toward constant discouragement, discontentment, despair, and destruction.
Instead, if you pursue godliness (here described as righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness) and fight the good fight of faith, you will have great gain. Having the right priority in your day means that you profit greatly from the foundation of contentment.
If you are satisfied with Jesus Christ and pursuing godliness, then everything you have becomes part of God’s gifts to you for your enjoyment. These things are given to you to enjoy life (1 Tim 6:17). Use them then to enjoy your life. This step alone dramatically changes your day. On the contrary, if what you have becomes what you serve and long for plus a desire even for more, the plethora of things you have already received from God never is enough. Happiness always evades you. You will not be content.
Contentment begins with satisfaction with God.
If you are satisfied with God, then everything else in your life becomes profit or gain. And as Paul says, that’s great gain.
If you missed your service this past weekend, here’s a link to my message from Sunday out of this same passage. You’ll get the full context for this verse in the message.
Image Credit Sebastian Voortman
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
