ESOCS Devotional 9 November
TEXT: I TIMOTHY 6: 1-10 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6: 6 KJV
When we talk about godliness, we are referring to the act of doing what is pleasing to God. It is impossible for one who has not had an encounter or had a relationship with God to become godly. This is because godliness is a God-centred life. It grows, not through the pursuit of a process but through the presence of a person. Jesus is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3: 16).
Contentment is finding joy in what God has given to you. A Christian grace grows over time. It does not come quickly, easily, or naturally. Dictionary defines contentment as the state of being mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are. The meaning can only be achieved in Christ Jesus. Paul in Philippians 4:11 taught that no matter what circumstances that came about in his life, he was still at peace and content with the state that he was in.
Paul says if you have godliness with contentment, it will be of huge advantage to you. Why is it great gain to have godliness with contentment? That is what makes a servant to count his master worthy of honour (v. 1). They will not despise their masters who are also a believers (v. 2), but will be of service and faithful to them; it will not allow one to be proud, envious, troublesome etc. (v. 4), and will not allow one to be perverse and speak falsely (v. 5)
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
For those who do not choose godliness with contentment, the consequence is seen in v. 9 of our text, which tells us that you cannot keep what you gain. If getting rich is your goal, you cannot keep what you gain. “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it (v. 7). Also, 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… the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (v. 9 – 10), and they may wander from the faith (v. 10).
The benefit of godliness with contentment is that you gain God’s peace, hope, love, and satisfaction in the little you possess and are able to overcome temptations that come with worldly riches and are able to avoid sorrows of the world.
CHALLENGES
- Are you contented with what you have? What aspect of your life have you not surrendered to God?
PRAYER POINT
- Ask God to remove every spirit of covetousness in your life and make you godly so that you will be able to have contentment in Christ Jesus.
FURTHER READING: Job 11:1-20; Job 13:1-12; 1 Tim 5:13-25
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ESOCS Devotional 9 November
