March 23rd, 2026
by John Cole
by John Cole
Read below what John Cole wrote as his manuscript for this sermon. Watch or listen to this sermon on our website, app, and YouTube channel. The sermon post on the website and app includes a brief outline to help you follow along and discuss with others.
A CLOSE ENEMY
We have a close enemy. Today’s scripture passage tells of an enemy who wants to destroy us and pierce us through with many sorrows. And until Christ returns, there’s no fully escaping this enemy on earth.
This enemy is a hunter who sets traps. It looks for opportunities to make you fall. And if you do, it will plunge you into destruction and ruin.
No need to look around with wonder where this enemy is. It’s always around. It resides in our hearts. It’s the indwelling presence of sin. And it often presents itself as discontentment. As a heart that is set on money and things money can buy.
We have a close enemy. The only victory over it comes through faith in the gospel. Actually, faith in the gospel is what it attacks. Love of money attacks faith in the gospel.
Do you love money?
We must all ask ourselves this question today. It’s more difficult to answer than we might think. So I’ll ask it another way. Our text also stirs us to ask:
Are you content with what you have?
That’s challenging to answer, isn’t it? Do you have food and covering today? What beyond those is your heart currently set on? What else can’t you stop thinking about? What else would you love to have?
How do you preach and hear a sermon about loving money in the DC area? Isn’t society here largely wound up around money, economy, government, and jobs?
Worse… I started planning a family vacation just as I began working on sermons in this chapter! Family, get ready to back-pack it this year! We’re always thrifty with our vacations, but this year we’re setting records!
We’re in the heart of the USA. We have so much. And we pay lots of taxes for it! But we have so much. And yet, we still want more. If you could, what more would you like to have?
• To be able to keep up with your bills? For your DHS job and pay to re-open? To pay off that loan?
• A certain amount in the bank and investments? Better healthcare or insurance? College or trade school funds for your kids. A house?
• Maybe just an addition to your house? A vacation you see others going on?
• A home update. Nicer car. A restaurant budget. The latest gadget. That thing your friend bought—whatever that is!
• Maybe it’s a degree. Or just higher social status. Power. Pleasure. Travel and leisure. Freedom and comfort!
I could go on, but I’m afraid I’ll never get your mind back to the sermon.
I’ve titled the sermon: The Great Gain of Godliness with Contentment. We’ll be in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, but we need to begin by reading v3-5 from two weeks ago.
A church in Ephesus during the first century had been plagued by greedy false teachers. They tried to use their false claim of godliness to gain power, wealth, and pleasure. They even misused the name of God to climb the social ladder.
So, Apostle Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit this instructive letter to his representative, Timothy, and to the church. As he confronted the false teaching and living that did not accord with the gospel, he wrote…
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting [sickeningly obsessing] about questions [controversial disputes] and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings [slander], evil surmisings [suspicions], 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt[ed] minds, and destitute [robbed] of the truth,
supposing that gain is [something to be grasped by] godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
These false teachers supposed that godliness was a means of gaining possessions, power, and pleasure. Paul counters them by saying that godliness actually brings great gain. Gain that is eternal—as said in chapter four. And…true godliness includes contentment.
Such true godliness is great gain now and in the age to come. So, now our text of v6-10.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
6 But 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 raiment [covering]
let us be therewith content.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
9 But they that will [set their heart to] be rich fall
into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts [cravings],
which drown men in destruction and perdition [perishing].
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
10 For the love of money is the [a] root of all evil[s]:
which while some coveted [aspired] after,
they have erred [been misled] from the faith, and
pierced [impaled] themselves through with many sorrows [pains].
Now with this context, let’s apply our text with four sharp directives. Whether you are a young adult trying to establish your home and income… or you’ve been through all that but still not where you hoped to be… or you’re done with all that but trying to figure out how to make your
golden years” golden…
1) KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR GODLINESS AND POSSESSIONS. (v6-8)
How many possessions did you bring into the world? How much will you take with you to the presence of God and the new heavens and earth? You brought nothing in. You’ll bring nothing out.
What does that say about the importance of what you collect during the short dash that will go on your tombstone? Godliness matters. Knowing and loving God. Believing and living according to His gospel.
Paul by the Spirit says this eternal perspective…
1 Timothy 4:8 KJV
…godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Godliness goes with you. That’s the point Paul makes. So, Paul’s wise statement in verse six builds on the wisdom God has already given well before Paul’s time.
Consider: Job 1:21; Ecclesiastes 5:15
Job 1:21 KJV
And [Job] said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.
The older, wealthy King Solomon wrote…
Ecclesiastes 5:15 KJV
As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
We bring nothing into this world. We take nothing out. That is the basis of Paul’s powerful statement of our text…
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
6 But 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 raiment [covering]
let us be therewith content.
Paul says if you have your basic necessities, be content. Even if you have little of them and sometimes hunger, be content. Because godliness with contentment is great gain now and in the age to come.
Wisdom of the world tells us to do all we can now to ensure we can be content later. If we follow that advice, we spend all our vibrant years discontent. And then we remain discontent in our older years because they don’t end up the way we anticipated.
Life in this fallen world has a way of undermining our ideals.
Wisdom of God tells us to be content now with whatever God has given us. Be diligent. Have goals. But at the same time, be content with what you have. Do both.
Through faith in the Lord and His gospel, we joyfully steward our years with contentment.
Contentment is not a call to be lazy, apathetic, or without goals in life. It means to be at peace with the results of our labor and the possessions we have while we pursue godliness. While we diligently steward what God entrusts us. While we work hard in the home, at the job, and in ministry as a church.
We are called to contentment! Not anxiety, envy, or greed about what we do and do not have
Paul’s instruction sounds like some of the classical Greek philosophy and common ascetic dogma of his day. Paul even used the same Greek word they used for contentment. But, Paul’s instruction was much different.
We know this because Paul employed that same Greek word two other times in the NT:
Same Greek root word for “contentment”: 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:11
2 Corinthians 9:7–8 KJV
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
So Paul’s godly understanding of contentment included sufficiency—and even abundance! Paul assured this church in Corinth that God was able to give them sufficient grace for them to be abundant in their service and their giving.
Biblical contentment includes having a resolve to do more. But the resolve is always centered on God and His gospel. Whether the context is establishing a vocation, building a business, caring for family members, or giving to your church.
It’s not about how much you have. It’s about where you have set your heart.
See how Paul uses “content” in Philippians.
Philippians 4:11–13 KJV
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Godliness with contentment has Christ and His gospel as the chief goal. With Christ as the goal, Christ gives the enablement to be content in all things. Whatever we are going through!
Christ doesn’t strengthen us to do all things. That’s puling the statement out of context. There are many things He would never strengthen us to do. But Christ will strengthen us to have the contentment needed to keep Him and His gospel as the goal through all circumstances—times of plenty and times of little.
Godly contentment still receives with thanksgiving many good gifts God does give—without denying them. But, godly contentment depends on God’s gift of the Spirit to be content. It is an empowerment that comes from Christ.
Greek philosophy and asceticism of Paul’s day and today’s self help advice know nothing about depending on God’s Spirit to have contentment. If they teach contentment, they teach you to achieve contentment by your own power, by drugs, or by some other power than God!
But godliness with contentment only comes from dependent trust in the Lord. It maintains an eternal perspective on our possessions.
Do you have this power from the Lord to be content in all things? Have you been born again? The strength Paul is talking about is the same power by which Jesus was raised from the dead. It is the power of God.
If you are not yet a Christian, you do not have this strength from the Lord. But you can become a Christian. Jesus calls all to hear the good news that He died for the sins of all who repent and believe on Him. He rose to give them life eternal—and godliness with contentment.
Will you confess your sin to God? Will you turn from it with faith in Jesus to save and make you godly? There is great gain in doing so.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
6 But 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 raiment [covering]
let us be therewith content.
Godliness has higher goals than material possessions, power, or pleasure gained by money. Godliness has a heart set on God’s great plan for all heaven and earth—Jesus.
There is no lasting gain in heaping up possessions. Neither is there lasting gain in trusting in one’s ability to stoically deny possessions. But there is great gain in trusting in God and His gospel for the right use of possessions.
Trust in the Lord enables contentment: Hebrews 13:5.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
If you have the Lord, you have more than any money can buy. Being in fellowship with the Lord enables us to have contentment with such things as we have. And…
Living for the gospel enables contentment: Mark 8:35-36.
Mark 8:35–36 KJV
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
See? Contentment is about believing the gospel—truly. Not just professing to believe it. If you believe the gospel, you have the ability from Christ to be content while also working hard losing your life in the gospel!
Consider some quick principles to help you keep an eternal perspective of your godliness and possessions:
• Whatever you have is more than what you brought or can take with you.
• You are always a recipient. God is always the giver.
• If you trust God with your eternity (though you bring no possessions into it), trust Him with your needs today.
• Godliness with contentment is gain that goes with you.
Remember how I asked what you are trying to collect during the short dash that will go on your tombstone?
Godliness with contentment is great gain now and eternally.
Q: Are you more concerned with obtaining possessions than with being godly?
1) KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR GODLINESS AND POSSESSIONS. (v6-8)
2) GUARD FROM BEING OVERTAKEN WITH DESTRUCTIVE AMBITIONS . (v9)
Think with me about the many cautionary examples God has recorded for us in the Bible.
The Bible begins with the first man and woman—Adam and Eve. They set their hearts on more than God had given them. In doing so, they stepped right into Satan’s trap. And their lust plunged them—and us all—into destruction.
The Bible records of another married couple who was overtaken by their passions—Ananias and Sapphira. They lusted for money and lied to the Holy Spirit. Instead of fearing God, they feared losing the money they loved. They set their hearts on being rich and fell into temptation and the trap. And then they literally fell over dead. You can read about it in Acts 5.
These are just two examples from a history filled with more of what we read next.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
9 But they that will [set their heart to] be rich fall
into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts [cravings],
which drown men in destruction and perdition [perishing].
This is the opposite of godliness with contentment. It is discontentment in place of godliness. It is a heart set on gaining what God has not given you as more important than God and His gospel.
Riches are not bad. Instruction for Christians who are rich is actually given near the end of this chapter. Riches do not cause a fall into temptation, snare, and destructive lusts. A heart set on riches does. A heart that desires temporary treasures over God and His gospel.
The heart that is set on being rich is misled to think other things are more important than God and His gospel. That person may may say God is more important, but his actions follow where his heart is truly set—on temporary gain.
Such a heart posture is positioned to fall into a temptation and snare.
[Grab chair prop]
It’s like it is standing up on a chair with one foot and on tip toes with arms reaching up as high as possible. Just hoping to grasp at more possessions. To be rich.
And then the fall into a temptation and snare. And once in the trap, you give yourself over to many foolish and hurtful lusts. And those lusts plunge you into destruction and perishing. Loss and even eternal judgment.
A heart set on riches is not a fruit of the Spirit. It is the fruit of the sinful flesh. And that is why it characterizes these false teachers. They misused the law, taught what they did not understand, usurped biblical authority, valued their ways over true godliness, and were filled with pride and sickly strifes, envy, and evil suspicions.
They were sinners, but unlike Paul, they did not confess it. Unlike Paul, they were not overwhelmed by the mercy and grace of our Lord with faith and love that is in Jesus Christ. They did not truly believe that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and that He is the risen King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God.
They professed to believe, but they didn’t. They were unrepentant. Not submitted. Unbelieving. They were perishing. Here’s what they did:
Desire to be rich—>fall/temptation/snare—>many destroying lusts
[Grab chair again]
Always standing up and reaching for what they did not have. Never content with what God has provided. Drowning in lusts.
Like a lot of people in our world. Like how you might have once been. Or how you are now.
Much of the destruction of our world is done by sinners who have their hearts set on being rich and powerful instead of living according to the gospel. Instead of loving and worshiping God with trust in Christ’s salvation.
• Godly desires may diligently steward riches, but godly desires do not seek to be rich.
• A heart set on riches is itself a temptation that snares.
• A heart set on riches leads to a flood of destructive passions.
• Set your heart on Christ and the riches of His grace instead.
Consider the wisdom of God: Proverbs 23:4-5; 28:22; Matthew 6:24
Proverbs 23:4–5 KJV
Labour not to be rich: Cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Proverbs 28:22 KJV
He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, And considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
Matthew 6:24 KJV
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Ironically, those who set their heart on riches become mastered by their desires. As Jesus said in Mark 8, they try to gain the whole world but lose their soul.
Q: Is your heart set on riches? How is that going?
1) KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR GODLINESS AND POSSESSIONS. (v6-8)
2) GUARD FROM BEING OVERTAKEN WITH DESTRUCTIVE AMBITIONS. (v9)
3) UPROOT GREED BEFORE IT MISLEADS AND PAINS YOU. (v10)
It’s spring time! You know what that means? Gotta pull the weeds!
Don’t you hate weeds? They must be part of the curse of sin!When you pull weeds, it is important to pull them up by the roots. You don’t want them growing back.
Our final verse describes the heart set on riches as a root. A root of all evils. Pick an evil, and you can see in some way this root.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
10 For the love of money is the [a] root of all evil[s]:
which while some coveted [aspired] after,
they have erred [been misled] from the faith, and
pierced [impaled] themselves through with many sorrows [pains].
Like I said, name an evil, and we can see a way that a love for money can take you to it. It’s a root of all evils. The emphasis of the text is on how catastrophic love of money is. Just let the way the text read land with weight instead of trying to needlessly soften it.
Those who love money aspire for riches. Instead of having good aspirations like for godliness or eldering (chapter 3), they aspire for riches and all the power, pleasure, security, and comfort money can buy.
Again, money is not the problem. The love of it is.
While aspiring after riches, people are misled away from the faith. From the gospel. They choose to aspire for riches. They are deceived away from the gospel as a result.
And then they take another set of actions in their deception. These actions are even more self-destructive. Paul describes them as piercing or impaling themselves through with many sorrows, griefs, and pains.
What sort of pains? The sort that come from:
•Lying, cheating, fraud, and robbery
•Selfishness, slander, division, and hatred
•Injustice, oppression, and unjust wars
•Sales of drugs, pornography, and human trafficking
•Blackmail, back-stabbing, and constant politicking
•Endless stress, anxiety, and distrust
A constant repeat of Adam and Eve… Cain and Able… Ananias and Sapphira. As the psalmist wrote…
Hear the psalmist: Psalm 52:7
Psalm 52:7 KJV
Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.
If you start calling money or the idea of being rich “my precious”, it’s past time to confess, repent, and turn with trust in God as your strength!
• Uproot aspirations to be rich and ask God instead to give you aspirations for godliness.
• You will be deceived if you love money.
• You will suffer evil pain if you love money.
• Do not be led away from the eternal gospel for vanishing money.
Choose the gospel over vanishing riches. Godliness over power. Love of God and others over love of money.
Make money. Don’t treat it like your maker.
Steward money. Don’t serve it.
Do good in the world with money. Don’t do evil to get money.
Use money out of love for God and His gospel. Don’t love money.
Q: Do you love money? Why?
Is there any good that comes from loving money? It is a root of all evil.
If you sense the love of money taking root in your heart, it’s past time to pull some weeds!
Ask God’s Spirit to help you go to God’s word and people. Pray for the ability to uproot this ungodly love. Ask Christ for the strength and ability to love and obey Him with contentment!
1) KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR GODLINESS AND POSSESSIONS. (v6-8)
2) GUARD FROM BEING OVERTAKEN WITH DESTRUCTIVE AMBITIONS. (v9)
3) UPROOT GREED BEFORE IT MISLEADS AND PAINS YOU. (v10)
4) SET YOUR HEART ON KEEPING THE FAITH , NOT GANING MORE MONEY .
Remember the close enemy? It’s sin in our hearts. Real close! Love of money is the opposite of keeping the faith. It sets traps and misleads away from the faith.
Do not minimize God’s instruction to us. Do not laugh about loving money. It divides homes and wrecks lives.
•Fathers and husbands fail to lead their homes in godliness because of it.
•Family members spend money out of control and derail the focus of the family from the gospel.
•True Christians get misled away from the gospel for a time and cause much destruction on their way back to living out the gospel in church community.
•Non-Christians get misled away from ever coming to faith in the gospel as they give themselves to the love of money and as they see people in the church do the same.
So Paul wrote…
1 Timothy 6:9–10 KJV
But they that will be rich fall… For the love of money…have erred from the faith…
In a place like our DC area, we need reminded about the danger of setting our hearts on riches and loving money.
It’s a trap that keeps trapping. People who are misled by it mislead others by it. It’s an endless cycle of greed.
There is no true, lasting gain in loving money. So…
SERMON IN A SENTENCE: Seek godliness with contentment that goes with you , and uproot love of money that ruins you .
You’ll leave the world in this age the same way you entered it: without any possessions.
You were created by God for a far greater purpose than aspiring for riches and material possessions. Use them, but don’t love them. You were created to know, love, and make known God.
If you are not yet a Christian, ask God to fill your heart with love for Jesus. Turn from loving sin to loving God. Trust in Jesus’s sinless life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection as the atonement for your sins. Be saved. Get baptized. Grow as a faithful member of your church.
If you are a Christian, seek godliness with contentment that goes with you. Uproot love of money that ruins you. Godliness with contentment is great gain. It has profit now and in the resurrected life to come.
Don’t fall for Satan’s traps. Don’t be misled away from the faith. Don’t pierce yourself through with many sorrows, griefs, and pains.
Lasting gain is loving God and being loved by Him. Brothers and sisters, God is our inheritance. Are you content with God?
Have goals. Steward wisely. Work diligently. But don’t love money. Love God.
And go tell others about: The Great Gain of Godliness with Contentment.
A CLOSE ENEMY
We have a close enemy. Today’s scripture passage tells of an enemy who wants to destroy us and pierce us through with many sorrows. And until Christ returns, there’s no fully escaping this enemy on earth.
This enemy is a hunter who sets traps. It looks for opportunities to make you fall. And if you do, it will plunge you into destruction and ruin.
No need to look around with wonder where this enemy is. It’s always around. It resides in our hearts. It’s the indwelling presence of sin. And it often presents itself as discontentment. As a heart that is set on money and things money can buy.
We have a close enemy. The only victory over it comes through faith in the gospel. Actually, faith in the gospel is what it attacks. Love of money attacks faith in the gospel.
Do you love money?
We must all ask ourselves this question today. It’s more difficult to answer than we might think. So I’ll ask it another way. Our text also stirs us to ask:
Are you content with what you have?
That’s challenging to answer, isn’t it? Do you have food and covering today? What beyond those is your heart currently set on? What else can’t you stop thinking about? What else would you love to have?
How do you preach and hear a sermon about loving money in the DC area? Isn’t society here largely wound up around money, economy, government, and jobs?
Worse… I started planning a family vacation just as I began working on sermons in this chapter! Family, get ready to back-pack it this year! We’re always thrifty with our vacations, but this year we’re setting records!
We’re in the heart of the USA. We have so much. And we pay lots of taxes for it! But we have so much. And yet, we still want more. If you could, what more would you like to have?
• To be able to keep up with your bills? For your DHS job and pay to re-open? To pay off that loan?
• A certain amount in the bank and investments? Better healthcare or insurance? College or trade school funds for your kids. A house?
• Maybe just an addition to your house? A vacation you see others going on?
• A home update. Nicer car. A restaurant budget. The latest gadget. That thing your friend bought—whatever that is!
• Maybe it’s a degree. Or just higher social status. Power. Pleasure. Travel and leisure. Freedom and comfort!
I could go on, but I’m afraid I’ll never get your mind back to the sermon.
I’ve titled the sermon: The Great Gain of Godliness with Contentment. We’ll be in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, but we need to begin by reading v3-5 from two weeks ago.
A church in Ephesus during the first century had been plagued by greedy false teachers. They tried to use their false claim of godliness to gain power, wealth, and pleasure. They even misused the name of God to climb the social ladder.
So, Apostle Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit this instructive letter to his representative, Timothy, and to the church. As he confronted the false teaching and living that did not accord with the gospel, he wrote…
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting [sickeningly obsessing] about questions [controversial disputes] and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings [slander], evil surmisings [suspicions], 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt[ed] minds, and destitute [robbed] of the truth,
supposing that gain is [something to be grasped by] godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
These false teachers supposed that godliness was a means of gaining possessions, power, and pleasure. Paul counters them by saying that godliness actually brings great gain. Gain that is eternal—as said in chapter four. And…true godliness includes contentment.
Such true godliness is great gain now and in the age to come. So, now our text of v6-10.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
6 But 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 raiment [covering]
let us be therewith content.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
9 But they that will [set their heart to] be rich fall
into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts [cravings],
which drown men in destruction and perdition [perishing].
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
10 For the love of money is the [a] root of all evil[s]:
which while some coveted [aspired] after,
they have erred [been misled] from the faith, and
pierced [impaled] themselves through with many sorrows [pains].
Now with this context, let’s apply our text with four sharp directives. Whether you are a young adult trying to establish your home and income… or you’ve been through all that but still not where you hoped to be… or you’re done with all that but trying to figure out how to make your
golden years” golden…
1) KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR GODLINESS AND POSSESSIONS. (v6-8)
How many possessions did you bring into the world? How much will you take with you to the presence of God and the new heavens and earth? You brought nothing in. You’ll bring nothing out.
What does that say about the importance of what you collect during the short dash that will go on your tombstone? Godliness matters. Knowing and loving God. Believing and living according to His gospel.
Paul by the Spirit says this eternal perspective…
1 Timothy 4:8 KJV
…godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Godliness goes with you. That’s the point Paul makes. So, Paul’s wise statement in verse six builds on the wisdom God has already given well before Paul’s time.
Consider: Job 1:21; Ecclesiastes 5:15
Job 1:21 KJV
And [Job] said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.
The older, wealthy King Solomon wrote…
Ecclesiastes 5:15 KJV
As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
We bring nothing into this world. We take nothing out. That is the basis of Paul’s powerful statement of our text…
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
6 But 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 raiment [covering]
let us be therewith content.
Paul says if you have your basic necessities, be content. Even if you have little of them and sometimes hunger, be content. Because godliness with contentment is great gain now and in the age to come.
Wisdom of the world tells us to do all we can now to ensure we can be content later. If we follow that advice, we spend all our vibrant years discontent. And then we remain discontent in our older years because they don’t end up the way we anticipated.
Life in this fallen world has a way of undermining our ideals.
Wisdom of God tells us to be content now with whatever God has given us. Be diligent. Have goals. But at the same time, be content with what you have. Do both.
Through faith in the Lord and His gospel, we joyfully steward our years with contentment.
Contentment is not a call to be lazy, apathetic, or without goals in life. It means to be at peace with the results of our labor and the possessions we have while we pursue godliness. While we diligently steward what God entrusts us. While we work hard in the home, at the job, and in ministry as a church.
We are called to contentment! Not anxiety, envy, or greed about what we do and do not have
Paul’s instruction sounds like some of the classical Greek philosophy and common ascetic dogma of his day. Paul even used the same Greek word they used for contentment. But, Paul’s instruction was much different.
We know this because Paul employed that same Greek word two other times in the NT:
Same Greek root word for “contentment”: 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:11
2 Corinthians 9:7–8 KJV
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
So Paul’s godly understanding of contentment included sufficiency—and even abundance! Paul assured this church in Corinth that God was able to give them sufficient grace for them to be abundant in their service and their giving.
Biblical contentment includes having a resolve to do more. But the resolve is always centered on God and His gospel. Whether the context is establishing a vocation, building a business, caring for family members, or giving to your church.
It’s not about how much you have. It’s about where you have set your heart.
See how Paul uses “content” in Philippians.
Philippians 4:11–13 KJV
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Godliness with contentment has Christ and His gospel as the chief goal. With Christ as the goal, Christ gives the enablement to be content in all things. Whatever we are going through!
Christ doesn’t strengthen us to do all things. That’s puling the statement out of context. There are many things He would never strengthen us to do. But Christ will strengthen us to have the contentment needed to keep Him and His gospel as the goal through all circumstances—times of plenty and times of little.
Godly contentment still receives with thanksgiving many good gifts God does give—without denying them. But, godly contentment depends on God’s gift of the Spirit to be content. It is an empowerment that comes from Christ.
Greek philosophy and asceticism of Paul’s day and today’s self help advice know nothing about depending on God’s Spirit to have contentment. If they teach contentment, they teach you to achieve contentment by your own power, by drugs, or by some other power than God!
But godliness with contentment only comes from dependent trust in the Lord. It maintains an eternal perspective on our possessions.
Do you have this power from the Lord to be content in all things? Have you been born again? The strength Paul is talking about is the same power by which Jesus was raised from the dead. It is the power of God.
If you are not yet a Christian, you do not have this strength from the Lord. But you can become a Christian. Jesus calls all to hear the good news that He died for the sins of all who repent and believe on Him. He rose to give them life eternal—and godliness with contentment.
Will you confess your sin to God? Will you turn from it with faith in Jesus to save and make you godly? There is great gain in doing so.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
6 But 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 raiment [covering]
let us be therewith content.
Godliness has higher goals than material possessions, power, or pleasure gained by money. Godliness has a heart set on God’s great plan for all heaven and earth—Jesus.
There is no lasting gain in heaping up possessions. Neither is there lasting gain in trusting in one’s ability to stoically deny possessions. But there is great gain in trusting in God and His gospel for the right use of possessions.
Trust in the Lord enables contentment: Hebrews 13:5.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
If you have the Lord, you have more than any money can buy. Being in fellowship with the Lord enables us to have contentment with such things as we have. And…
Living for the gospel enables contentment: Mark 8:35-36.
Mark 8:35–36 KJV
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
See? Contentment is about believing the gospel—truly. Not just professing to believe it. If you believe the gospel, you have the ability from Christ to be content while also working hard losing your life in the gospel!
Consider some quick principles to help you keep an eternal perspective of your godliness and possessions:
• Whatever you have is more than what you brought or can take with you.
• You are always a recipient. God is always the giver.
• If you trust God with your eternity (though you bring no possessions into it), trust Him with your needs today.
• Godliness with contentment is gain that goes with you.
Remember how I asked what you are trying to collect during the short dash that will go on your tombstone?
Godliness with contentment is great gain now and eternally.
Q: Are you more concerned with obtaining possessions than with being godly?
1) KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR GODLINESS AND POSSESSIONS. (v6-8)
2) GUARD FROM BEING OVERTAKEN WITH DESTRUCTIVE AMBITIONS . (v9)
Think with me about the many cautionary examples God has recorded for us in the Bible.
The Bible begins with the first man and woman—Adam and Eve. They set their hearts on more than God had given them. In doing so, they stepped right into Satan’s trap. And their lust plunged them—and us all—into destruction.
The Bible records of another married couple who was overtaken by their passions—Ananias and Sapphira. They lusted for money and lied to the Holy Spirit. Instead of fearing God, they feared losing the money they loved. They set their hearts on being rich and fell into temptation and the trap. And then they literally fell over dead. You can read about it in Acts 5.
These are just two examples from a history filled with more of what we read next.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
9 But they that will [set their heart to] be rich fall
into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts [cravings],
which drown men in destruction and perdition [perishing].
This is the opposite of godliness with contentment. It is discontentment in place of godliness. It is a heart set on gaining what God has not given you as more important than God and His gospel.
Riches are not bad. Instruction for Christians who are rich is actually given near the end of this chapter. Riches do not cause a fall into temptation, snare, and destructive lusts. A heart set on riches does. A heart that desires temporary treasures over God and His gospel.
The heart that is set on being rich is misled to think other things are more important than God and His gospel. That person may may say God is more important, but his actions follow where his heart is truly set—on temporary gain.
Such a heart posture is positioned to fall into a temptation and snare.
[Grab chair prop]
It’s like it is standing up on a chair with one foot and on tip toes with arms reaching up as high as possible. Just hoping to grasp at more possessions. To be rich.
And then the fall into a temptation and snare. And once in the trap, you give yourself over to many foolish and hurtful lusts. And those lusts plunge you into destruction and perishing. Loss and even eternal judgment.
A heart set on riches is not a fruit of the Spirit. It is the fruit of the sinful flesh. And that is why it characterizes these false teachers. They misused the law, taught what they did not understand, usurped biblical authority, valued their ways over true godliness, and were filled with pride and sickly strifes, envy, and evil suspicions.
They were sinners, but unlike Paul, they did not confess it. Unlike Paul, they were not overwhelmed by the mercy and grace of our Lord with faith and love that is in Jesus Christ. They did not truly believe that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and that He is the risen King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God.
They professed to believe, but they didn’t. They were unrepentant. Not submitted. Unbelieving. They were perishing. Here’s what they did:
Desire to be rich—>fall/temptation/snare—>many destroying lusts
[Grab chair again]
Always standing up and reaching for what they did not have. Never content with what God has provided. Drowning in lusts.
Like a lot of people in our world. Like how you might have once been. Or how you are now.
Much of the destruction of our world is done by sinners who have their hearts set on being rich and powerful instead of living according to the gospel. Instead of loving and worshiping God with trust in Christ’s salvation.
• Godly desires may diligently steward riches, but godly desires do not seek to be rich.
• A heart set on riches is itself a temptation that snares.
• A heart set on riches leads to a flood of destructive passions.
• Set your heart on Christ and the riches of His grace instead.
Consider the wisdom of God: Proverbs 23:4-5; 28:22; Matthew 6:24
Proverbs 23:4–5 KJV
Labour not to be rich: Cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Proverbs 28:22 KJV
He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, And considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
Matthew 6:24 KJV
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Ironically, those who set their heart on riches become mastered by their desires. As Jesus said in Mark 8, they try to gain the whole world but lose their soul.
Q: Is your heart set on riches? How is that going?
1) KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR GODLINESS AND POSSESSIONS. (v6-8)
2) GUARD FROM BEING OVERTAKEN WITH DESTRUCTIVE AMBITIONS. (v9)
3) UPROOT GREED BEFORE IT MISLEADS AND PAINS YOU. (v10)
It’s spring time! You know what that means? Gotta pull the weeds!
Don’t you hate weeds? They must be part of the curse of sin!When you pull weeds, it is important to pull them up by the roots. You don’t want them growing back.
Our final verse describes the heart set on riches as a root. A root of all evils. Pick an evil, and you can see in some way this root.
1 Timothy 6:3–10 KJV
10 For the love of money is the [a] root of all evil[s]:
which while some coveted [aspired] after,
they have erred [been misled] from the faith, and
pierced [impaled] themselves through with many sorrows [pains].
Like I said, name an evil, and we can see a way that a love for money can take you to it. It’s a root of all evils. The emphasis of the text is on how catastrophic love of money is. Just let the way the text read land with weight instead of trying to needlessly soften it.
Those who love money aspire for riches. Instead of having good aspirations like for godliness or eldering (chapter 3), they aspire for riches and all the power, pleasure, security, and comfort money can buy.
Again, money is not the problem. The love of it is.
While aspiring after riches, people are misled away from the faith. From the gospel. They choose to aspire for riches. They are deceived away from the gospel as a result.
And then they take another set of actions in their deception. These actions are even more self-destructive. Paul describes them as piercing or impaling themselves through with many sorrows, griefs, and pains.
What sort of pains? The sort that come from:
•Lying, cheating, fraud, and robbery
•Selfishness, slander, division, and hatred
•Injustice, oppression, and unjust wars
•Sales of drugs, pornography, and human trafficking
•Blackmail, back-stabbing, and constant politicking
•Endless stress, anxiety, and distrust
A constant repeat of Adam and Eve… Cain and Able… Ananias and Sapphira. As the psalmist wrote…
Hear the psalmist: Psalm 52:7
Psalm 52:7 KJV
Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.
If you start calling money or the idea of being rich “my precious”, it’s past time to confess, repent, and turn with trust in God as your strength!
• Uproot aspirations to be rich and ask God instead to give you aspirations for godliness.
• You will be deceived if you love money.
• You will suffer evil pain if you love money.
• Do not be led away from the eternal gospel for vanishing money.
Choose the gospel over vanishing riches. Godliness over power. Love of God and others over love of money.
Make money. Don’t treat it like your maker.
Steward money. Don’t serve it.
Do good in the world with money. Don’t do evil to get money.
Use money out of love for God and His gospel. Don’t love money.
Q: Do you love money? Why?
Is there any good that comes from loving money? It is a root of all evil.
If you sense the love of money taking root in your heart, it’s past time to pull some weeds!
Ask God’s Spirit to help you go to God’s word and people. Pray for the ability to uproot this ungodly love. Ask Christ for the strength and ability to love and obey Him with contentment!
1) KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR GODLINESS AND POSSESSIONS. (v6-8)
2) GUARD FROM BEING OVERTAKEN WITH DESTRUCTIVE AMBITIONS. (v9)
3) UPROOT GREED BEFORE IT MISLEADS AND PAINS YOU. (v10)
4) SET YOUR HEART ON KEEPING THE FAITH , NOT GANING MORE MONEY .
Remember the close enemy? It’s sin in our hearts. Real close! Love of money is the opposite of keeping the faith. It sets traps and misleads away from the faith.
Do not minimize God’s instruction to us. Do not laugh about loving money. It divides homes and wrecks lives.
•Fathers and husbands fail to lead their homes in godliness because of it.
•Family members spend money out of control and derail the focus of the family from the gospel.
•True Christians get misled away from the gospel for a time and cause much destruction on their way back to living out the gospel in church community.
•Non-Christians get misled away from ever coming to faith in the gospel as they give themselves to the love of money and as they see people in the church do the same.
So Paul wrote…
1 Timothy 6:9–10 KJV
But they that will be rich fall… For the love of money…have erred from the faith…
In a place like our DC area, we need reminded about the danger of setting our hearts on riches and loving money.
It’s a trap that keeps trapping. People who are misled by it mislead others by it. It’s an endless cycle of greed.
There is no true, lasting gain in loving money. So…
SERMON IN A SENTENCE: Seek godliness with contentment that goes with you , and uproot love of money that ruins you .
You’ll leave the world in this age the same way you entered it: without any possessions.
You were created by God for a far greater purpose than aspiring for riches and material possessions. Use them, but don’t love them. You were created to know, love, and make known God.
If you are not yet a Christian, ask God to fill your heart with love for Jesus. Turn from loving sin to loving God. Trust in Jesus’s sinless life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection as the atonement for your sins. Be saved. Get baptized. Grow as a faithful member of your church.
If you are a Christian, seek godliness with contentment that goes with you. Uproot love of money that ruins you. Godliness with contentment is great gain. It has profit now and in the resurrected life to come.
Don’t fall for Satan’s traps. Don’t be misled away from the faith. Don’t pierce yourself through with many sorrows, griefs, and pains.
Lasting gain is loving God and being loved by Him. Brothers and sisters, God is our inheritance. Are you content with God?
Have goals. Steward wisely. Work diligently. But don’t love money. Love God.
And go tell others about: The Great Gain of Godliness with Contentment.
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