Tag: great gain
Contentment and the fight of faith
Scripture reading for September 18th: 1st Timothy 6, Psalm 36, Proverbs 31
1st Timothy 6: 6-11 “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 from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
The flesh and the world we live in work to stir up all kinds of passions and desires. We are insecure about our provision and seek to build our own security with greater and greater acquisitions. Paul warned Timothy to flee this approach. As God’s children, we can trust Him to supply all our needs. If we have food and clothing, with this we should be content. Seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness will keep our focus on pursuing godliness. Adding to our faith the love of God and patience and gentleness is part of the battle to stay in the faith. Our goal should not be this world and its attractions but eternal life in God’s presence. In His presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore!
Psalm 36:7-8 “How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your steadfast love and grace through Jesus Christ my Lord. Forgive me for allowing my flesh and fear to cause me to pursue worldly security and provision. I want to fight the good fight of faith each day, pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith and love with gentleness and patience. I can laugh with joy in anticipation of eternal life in Your presence forever and ever!
Proverbs 31:25-26 “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue”
Godliness and contentment!
Scripture reading for July 4th: 1st Kings 10-11, 2nd Chronicles 9, 1st Timothy 6
1st Timothy 6: 6-12 “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. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life, . . “
Paul encouraged Timothy to avoid the lure of money and riches as a means of finding meaning in life. This trap is an old one and is chronicled for us in the life of Solomon, whose riches brought him nothing but “vanity” or emptiness. It also turned his attention away from God, along with his many wives and concubines that his riches enabled him to have. True men and women of God will flee from this temptation, the ‘love of money’, and pursue by faith the kingdom of God. It is a ‘good fight’ because it yields eternal riches in God’s presence when Jesus Christ is revealed. We must keep our eyes on the true prize and not get distracted by the shiny objects!
1st Timothy 6:14-16 “. .to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time–He Who is the Blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who alone has immortality, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I long to see You and to receive my full inheritance! Thank You for the Holy Spirit, Who empowers me to live in godliness and with contentment for the abundance I have been given here on earth. Keep me from ever being distracted by the love of money. May I always be in pursuit of Your righteousness which is by faith through grace. To You be honor and eternal dominion forever and ever!
1st Kings 11:6-8 “So Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.”
The Good ‘Fight’!
Scripture reading for September 30th: 1st Timothy 6
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st Timothy 6:6-12 “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. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men 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. But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.”
Paul knew that there were false teachers in the church at Ephesus where Timothy was pastor. These false teachers stirred up strife through controversies and quarrels and brought friction into the church. They were preaching false doctrine with an underlying love of money and desire to get rich off God’s people! They brought the spirit of Satan and the world into Christ’s church and drew away disciples with their sensual teaching. Paul warned Timothy to flee from this worldly and demonic spirit and pursue righteousness and godliness. He was to fight a good fight of faith!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers flee the traps of Satan and the flesh and pursue God with vibrant faith! The best defense is a great offense! “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2)
Fight the good fight of faith!
Scripture reading for October 1st: 1st Timothy 6
Some people believe that being a Christ-follower means sitting around and waiting for Jesus to come. Others are deterred by chasing money. But Paul encouraged Timothy to fight a good fight of faith. Believers must actively pursue godliness and resist the snares and temptations of the world and Satan. Ministers are to lead in this fight and set the example for others in their care!
“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men 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.” (1st Timothy 6:9-10) The pursuit of money and material possessions distracts us from seeking what is really of lasting value. Jesus, Himself, taught that you cannot serve God and money! (Luke 16:13) The love of money leads to other kinds of evil as well. Some use dishonest practices to obtain it. Others turn to gambling, selling drugs, prostitution, or other means that take them away from God and His kingdom and lead only to grief and sorrow.
“But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1st Timothy 6:11-12) As one belonging to God, we must take action with our own choices. We must flee temptations and the love of money, instead, pursuing what leads to deeper faith and lasting endurance. We must fight the good fight of faith and actually lay hold of the promises of God each day! It is a ‘good fight’!
Fighting the Good Fight!
Scripture reading for December 7th: 1 Timothy 4-6
Do you sometimes feel that you are fighting to keep your focus on the goal of seeing Jesus Christ either when He comes or when you go to be with Him? Do the things of this world compete for your attention and sometimes derail your focus? Timothy, a young pastor, was encouraged to wage a “good fight” by the great Apostle Paul. What does this “good fight” look like today?
In Timothy’s day, as ours, one of the distractions happened to be money and riches. There were those who got caught in the pursuit of riches and wealth and were never content. The love of money became a driving force. As people let the love of money drive them and their choices, they fell into temptation and the trap of the Devil. This opened the door in their lives for ruin and destruction! (1 Timothy 6:6-10) Some had wandered from the faith and brought grief into their lives!
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12
Paul encouraged his young pastoral protege to flee from this trap of the Devil. He was to pursue righteousness and all the qualities of godliness. We get what we pursue and focus on! The question for us is this: where is our focus? What kind of fight are we really involved in? Is it a fight of faith or for money and material things?
The strategy for those who do have money and are rich in the things of this world is to fight the fight of faith by generous giving! (1 Timothy 6:17-19) Timothy was to be faithful to warn them not to put their faith in riches. Riches are very uncertain and can soon vanish or become worthless, particularly when you die. The only way to insure eternal value is to use your riches to win people to the Lord. A firm foundation for the future of life with the Lord will be eternal riches of those won to the Kingdom through generous giving!
“Timothy, guard what has be entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.” 1 Timothy 6:20-21
The war we are in is waged in every-day living. We must always be on guard. Some claim knowledge that is opposed to God’s word. We must know the true word of God and live accordingly to keep from being seduced. Fight the fight of faith in your life today! We win eternally!