PEACE & CONTENTMENT

Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-11

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 let us be therewith content.
9 But 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.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

• Godliness + contentment = great gain

• True peace is

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  . When you have peace you have an inner calmness despite outer circumstances or condition.

• True contentment is inward. It deals with a satisfaction that is in us more so than a satisfaction with stuff, money, material possessions, etc. (outside conditions).

1. Be Content With What? (vv. 6-8)

• Great gain is
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  than stuff, money, or possessions.

• If great gain is the acquisition of stuff and possession, then when we die we gain

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  . (cf. v. 7)

• Having food and clothing let us therewith be content (satisfied).

• The more you

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  the appetite of lust for more, the more you
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  for more.

• The more your appetite grows, the less satisfied you become.

2. The Danger Of Discontent (vv. 9-10)

• Discontentment is dangerous. It comes with its own set of perils.

• v. 9 – Those who will be rich (live richly – this is all of us) fall into temptation and a trap (snare).

• If our orientation is toward more, more, and more stuff, then we’re headed for

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  .

• V. 10 – For the love of money is the root of all evil.
• While money may be seen as neutral by us, Jesus didn’t necessarily see it that way (cf. “make friend of unrighteous mammon”).
• Money on its own will naturally gravitate toward
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  . Mix in love with money and you have a powerful concoction for pain, destruction, and hurt. (v. 10)

3. Flee Discontentment And Pursue Inward Contentment (v. 11)

• V. 11 – But you Timothy, flee this kind of thinking – I’ve got to have more. Flee the pursuit of trying to satisfy an appetite that cannot be fully and finally satisfied.

• Don’t pursue the outward; pursue the inward. As you redirect your pursuit you become aware of things that

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  your discontentment.

• Awareness on one hand can drive dissatisfaction/discontentment.

• On the other hand, awareness can drive satisfaction/contentment.

• Change your pursuit from the outward to the

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  . (cf. Phil. 4:11-13; 18-19)
  • I can accept all things. (v. 11)
  • I can do all things. (v. 13)
  • I have all things. (v. 18)

• The word content actually means “

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  .” It is a description of the man whose resources are within him so that he does not have to depend on substitutes from without.
  • Contentment is based on what we contain, not what we
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    .
  • Our contentment is based on our inner resources.

• V. 18 - God has not promised to supply all our “

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  .” But when we, as the children of God, are in the will of God, serving for the glory of God, then He will meet our every need.

4. A Contented Life Is A Better Life (1 Tim. 6:18-19)

• Theology – I can accept all things; do all things, have all things.

• Praxology – How do I put that into practice? If we pursue the inward then we can do good with our money.

• v. 17 – God gives richly all things to enjoy.

• v. 18 – Charge them that…they do good, that they BE RICH in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.

• In essence, enjoy what you have been blessed with. Just don’t be selfish with it; don’t trust in it.

• Awareness drives discontentedness and contentedness.

• When you become

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  aware of other’s needs, you become
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  driven by what you don’t have.

• Lay a foundation for the future because of what you do

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  . (cf. v. 19)

• When you give generously to help others, you begin to live true life now.

• A

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  life is a
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  life.