"But godliness with contentment is great gain."
1 Timothy 6:6
Part 1
“But godliness.”
Godliness is the great goal of every believer. We desire to have a life that is consistently godly and follows Jesus Christ, faithfully. It’s interesting to note that in this English version of the Bible, “godliness” is only found written in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and 2 Peter. Both Peter and Paul placed an emphasis on a godly life. The word used in the ancient text means “reverence, respect…piety towards God, godliness” [1] (Thayer).
Some people in Timothy’s day believed that riches and material gain equated to godliness (1 Timothy 6:5). Paul followed up that misleading idea with our verse for today. A few believers may be very wealthy, but the vast majority of Christians worldwide have little of earthly value.
With personal discipline, a believer can become godly. We need to be careful here because just being disciplined does not make a person spiritual. There are some very disciplined military people, or sports heroes, or even excellent academics who are ungodly. Their discipline has not helped them become Christlike. And a Christian without discipline will not become godly. We grow to be like our Savior by consistently practicing (exercising) godliness.
“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
It will take much thought and discipline for us to keep away from those things that will stifle our godliness and bring harm to our souls.
“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16).
Staying away from evil requires considerable effort on our part, as does doing what is right requires enormous discipline.
“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12).
We are reminded that godliness alone is not enough. There is another component that is very important to the Christian life, and that is “contentment.” Come back tomorrow, and let’s learn what contentment means.
[1] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.