Take Hold of Contentment

1 Timothy 6:3-12, 17-19
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 15

It would be hard for one to imagine a society that seeks to breed discontentment more than ours! Think about it for a moment. Most of our commercials and advertising do not seek to promote the quality of the product as much as they promote the quality of life the product will provide for you.

Our whole advertising scheme today is based on making people feel discontented, unfulfilled, and socially rejected if they don’t buy, drive, wear, live in, or use a particular product.

And yet, the true Christian life breeds anything but discontentment. True biblical contentment is not some utopia that is unachievable. Rather it can be experienced by understanding and learning what the Bible has to say about it. This is what Paul tells young Timothy in our passage this week.

The manifestation of selfishness (6:3-5)

At the heart of all discontentment is an attitude of selfishness and pride. As a matter of fact, we could do away with any sin if we would just take the “I” out of it. You can’t spell sin without an “I.” This is true with discontentment.

The problem with false teachers is that, aside from just being wrong doctrinally, they are motivated by selfishness, which manifests itself in exploitation and financial gain. Today, we are plagued with false teachers who, at the end of their teaching, will ask you for your money by promising some financial blessing in return.

I never cease to be amazed how those promising a hundredfold blessing are always on the receiving end rather than the giving end! When it comes right down to it, they are simply motivated by their own selfishness.

Paul warns Timothy that where godliness is absent selfish financial motives will be rampant.

The profit of contentment (6:6-8)

It’s amazing that the very thing that false teachers seek through financial gain is really found through just the opposite. Real contentment is not seen with how much you can live with, but how much you can live without.

The basis of true contentment begins with a personal relationship with Christ in our hearts. Paul is just echoing what Christ already said when telling his disciples to seek first the kingdom of God within and God will provide the things from without.

Paul is saying that the truth is this: If we have food and raiment, we should be and will be satisfied when we have a personal relationship with Christ!

The point being made is that God has not promised to give us all our “greeds,” but rather to meet our “needs.”

The trap of greed (6:9-10)

Even those who are genuine followers of Christ can get into a financial trap when they buy and borrow too much. We all must remember that life, as Jesus taught, does not consist of the things we possess! If we are not careful, our possessions will possess us! (Note: Luke 12:22-34)

We must “nip” our lusts while they are still in the “bud.” If we take our eyes off of our relationship with Christ we will get sidetracked and miss God’s purpose for us. We must remember, as Paul told Timothy, it’s not money that is evil. It is the “love” or “lust” of money that is evil and that leads us into evil consequences!

The basis of real life (6:11-12, 17-19)

There is no one studying this lesson today who could not benefit from re-evaluating his or her attitudes toward wealth and contentment. Paul commanded Timothy to recall when he was first saved and called into the ministry. It is those spiritual ambitions of following Jesus and ministering to others that were to motivate Timothy to serve the Lord. Paul is reminding Timothy that it was not personal wealth or fame that directed his heart to go into the ministry in the first place. This is in contrast to the false teachers.

Therefore, he encourages Timothy to challenge others (especially the wealthy) to re-examine their motives in light of their conversion and the calling of God in their lives.

The interesting point is that false teachers do not have the foundations to fall back on. Timothy is to remember that fact and remind the true believer of it. This will always serve as a means to recover and maintain the proper focus of ministry.

We must bear in mind that God is not having Paul say that money or those who are wealthy are evil and wicked. He is saying we must not have the accumulating of money or fame as our motive. When it is in God’s plan to bless financially, we are to use it as a tool and a means to serve the Lord, not as a goal or purpose for our life.