1 Timothy 6:3–10

     Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

TRUTH AND CONTENTMENT

You will only find true contentment when Christ is what you treasure most!

I. Persisting in the faith and sound doctrine will grow godliness. (v. 3)

Sound Doctrine

• 1 Timothy 1:3–4
• 1 Timothy 1:10
• 1 Timothy 1:15
• 1 Timothy 3:16
• Titus 2:1

1 Timothy 6:4–5a

…he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth…

1 Timothy 6:5b

…imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

     In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And an outstanding reason for choosing some sort of God or spiritual-type thing to worship — be it J.C. or Allah, be it Yahweh or the Wiccan mother-goddess or the Four Noble Truths or some infrangible set of ethical principles — is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things — if they are where you tap real meaning in life — then you will never have enough. Never feel you have enough. It’s the truth. Worship your own body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you. Worship power — you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart — you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out. And so on. —David Foster Wallace

II. Godliness with contentment is great gain (v. 6)

1 Timothy 6:6–8

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

You will only find true contentment when Christ is what you treasure most!

III. The Temptation for Riches is a Snare!

1 Timothy 6:9–10

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Philippians 4:11–13

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

You will only find true contentment when Christ is what you treasure most!

IMPLICATIONS (SO WHAT?)

• Hold fast to sound doctrine.
• Avoid unhealthy craving for controversy.
• The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
• Seek contentment in Christ.

APPLICATION (NOW WHAT?)

• Take inventory of what you treasure most. (“If _ was taken from me, how would I respond?”)
• Ask God for increased affections for him.
• Build habits that lead to contentment in Christ.