Godliness and contentment

Godliness and Contentment 

S- 1 Tim 6 NIV

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.   10 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.

O - This is Paul’s reminder to Timothy who he sent to a church (Ephesus I believe) to help them stay on track in their faith.  The young church, who likely received the Gospel with great joy was now in that period where the adrenaline of being saved begins to fade and the worries and wants of the world begin to draw you away from godliness and contentment.   He is instructing Timothy for himself as well as for those he is shepherding to be reminded how little we need, simply food and clothing and to learn contentment in all things, and to focus on the attributes of godliness and joy will be their’s.

A -  The application to me is to remind myself of this contentment.  My current circumstance has me abundantly supplied with food and clothing and shelter.  My work is very challenging and rewarding.    All seems to be falling into place for a season of peace and prosperity and I fully intend to enjoy this gift from God.  I however and keenly aware of the seasonal nature of this world, and that God has not called me to be a settler here.  So I must be content and focus on godly responses to my circumstances.   I cannot allow my circumstances to dictate my contentment or my responses.

P - Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s opportunity to reflect on all that you have done and are doing in my life.  I am content in you.  I pray that your spirit would guide me in godliness, and that I would continue to shine your light into this world.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Rejoice in the Lord, always

 Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!

S- Final Exhortations4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.   9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

O -  Paul’s word to the Phillipians came from a place of wisdom and revelation.     In comparison to Solomon Paul may not had been as wise, but because of his revelation of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of heaven,  he was strong in revelation.    Solomon got wisdom early and lived a great and abundant life but in the end was melancholy and depressed.  Paul was just the opposite, he  struggled in his early years, and even when Christ stopped Him on the road to Damascus,  his life changed, but he struggled still for many years as he boldly preached the Gospel and was persecuted for it.   But toward the end,  while in prison,  he wrote to the church’s he planted to rejoice in the Lord,  let it be all joy, be gentle to all.    He said we can do that because the Lord is near (revelation).   We are not to worry , but rather we are to pray, because god will give us peace and understanding.      We should spend our time not focusing on the negative circumstances that surround us,  but rather on what is good, excellent and true.

A-  The application for me is recognize how blessed I am to have both the wisdom of Solomon and revelation of Paul at my fingertips at all times.   Even more so the revelation of Jesus Christ and the good news of the Gospel,  and now I have the Holy Spirit in me to guide me.   With all this I can and should rejoice in the Lord always!   I need not be anxious about anything, but just look around me at all that God is doing and has done.

P -  Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.   

Be happy in what you are doing today

Be happy in todays activities

S- Eccl 3 NASB

17 I said to myself, "God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man," for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

18 I said to myself concerning the sons of men, "God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts."

19 For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.

20 All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.

21 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

22 I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

O -  Solomon’s reflections in Ecclesiastes comes from a place of having been the wise man of all time, who lived in a time of peace,  and had great wealth.  He explored wisdom, vanity, excess and even folly and sin.   Even though he sinned against God,  his wisdom never left him, so as he sits here in his later years we see the reflection which is the conclusion we all need to understand, and if we are wise we don’t wait until we are in our late years to heed these wise words.   Solomon’s bottom line is this - only God knows if you are chosen and will spend eternity with him in heaven.  This is just one of the fates that is possible for us.  The second described here is that we are like the animals of the earth who are created from the earth and return to dust upon their death.   Solomon then goes on to conclude in all his experiences and with all his wisdom he has seen nothing better than the man who is happy with what he is doing that day for that is where God has him and that is enough. 

A -  The application for me is to seek to be joyful in each day the Lord is given me, and to recognize that each day is enough for me to worry about.  All other energy is not necessarily wise.   I recognize the battle is with my flesh and my pride.  I like to think I am strategic and discerning, but when I review my record I am reminded that the Lords ways are better than my ways, and that I really couldn’t have planned my way to the life God has given me.   

P -  Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your patience with me as I grow in wisdom the hard way.  I thank you for the gift of Solomon’s inspired word, and that it would was over me and change my perspective.  Lord I pray that today you show me what it is to do, and who to interact with and I pray that in all things you would be glorified.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.