The Greatest Gain

We live in a world of more: more money, more influence, more power... But what if the constant striving for more is actually making us ever more unhappy?

The Greatest Gain

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world."

(1 Timothy 6:6-10)

We live in a world of more: more money, more influence, more notoriety, more followers, more power, more, more, more! But what if the constant striving for more is actually making us more and more unhappy? In fact, the more you are focused on getting more, the more aware you are of all that you have left to gain and therefore do not yet have. This focus on what you do not have can only lead to discontentment and anxiety. We ought not focus on what we lack but on what we have. In fact, Paul warns that some even hypocritically seek godliness for the means of gaining more of what they want.

"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." (1 Timothy 6:3-5)

Seeking to be godly, or perhaps to just appear godly, for means of worldly gain will lead you only further away from the Lord. I want to be as close to the Lord as possible! Don't you?

Paul then writes, "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)

We do not seek to be godly in order to gain worldly influence or riches. Rather, the true gain in godliness in being content with what you have. Furthermore, we gain God! And in knowing Him, we find all that we need.

This isn't to say that Christians should not be ambitious, but be ambitious from a place of rest, knowing that you have all you need in Christ and seeking to make a difference in this world for the good of others.

Truly though, what peace there is in not having to live constantly striving for more! Godliness with contentment is great gain, so godliness and contentment go together. Do you want to live a godly life? Learn to be content. We will continue to consider Scripture about contentment in this week's devotions.

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Podcast of the Week

A Blessed & Gracious Man, with Thunderbird Pilot Fred Erickson

Pastor Danny welcomes to the show his friend Fred Erickson, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, Thunderbird pilot, and Vietnam war veteran. Fred is chairman both of the deacons and of the Finance Committee at Great Hills Baptist Church and a long-time member of the church with his wife Fran. Fred is also chairman of the board at Restoration Ranch, TX, a non-profit in the Austin area that helps women escape bad situations, overcome addictions, and build their relationship with Jesus. Fred talks about all of this and more in this episode, including some harrowing war stories.

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