Godliness with contentment

[Esphes45]

I believe like many of us God wakes us up and puts a thought in our head for the day. Mine today was Godliness with contentment is great gain. To be honest with you I am rarely content. I am always striving to be better naturally as well as spiritually. I want better in every way. Be all you can be - that's me. Now people have condemn me for being this way but this is the way God made me. Now maybe I have not found that "comfort zone" yet.

But really, is that where God wants us to be? In a state of contentment?

I have heard sermons against being neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. But then I have heard the godliness with contentment sermon also. These seem to contradict each other. I know it is probably the person teaching and not the word of God.

[shazeep]

finding contentment in adversity seems to be a key; pick up your cross and follow me...

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by shazeep

finding contentment in adversity seems to be a key; pick up your cross and follow me...

Good thought!

[Esaias]

The context of the verse is in regards to money and possessions and income. We are to have godliness (right religion) and contentment (be content with your possessions, wealth status, etc) and this will be "great gain" (the profit we should be seeking after).

It does not mean one should be content with being static in their walk with God. The Bible says we are to abound more and more in the knowledge, love, and grace of God.

[Esphes45]

Originally Posted by Esaias

The context of the verse is in regards to money and possessions and income. We are to have godliness (right religion) and contentment (be content with your possessions, wealth status, etc) and this will be "great gain" (the profit we should be seeking after).

It does not mean one should be content with being static in their walk with God. The Bible says we are to abound more and more in the knowledge, love, and grace of God.

I totally agree with the second part but...

Does it also mean that once I make enough to buy food and clothes I should stay static and not try to do more to increase my earnings?

Matthew 25:14-30?

Forget going to college, just work at Mickey D's. Godliness with contentment..

I have just seen too many people use this scripture as an excuse to be lazy. And not pursue greater things in this life.

I am just trying to get an understanding

[shazeep]

ha, nice!

Originally Posted by Esphes45

Does it also mean that once I make enough to buy food and clothes I should stay static and not try to do more to increase my earnings?

Matthew 25:14-30?

ok, the Matt passage is not about earning money, with all due respect.
22And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?c 26If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,d yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

so, forget working at McDs...lol

[mfblume]

I believe the passage in question speaks of our need to not be like the world who always wants more and never has enough. It's the spirit of greed. We have so much in the Spirit that we need to learn to be content even when we lack what others might have. The world sees others have, and many believers just have to get as much if not more. Keep up with the Jones's.

It is about possessions. Paul said he learned to be content in whatever stated he was in. If he abounded materially he was no more content than if we lacked materially. THAT is what it is talking about.

Has this been addressed? Just scanned the last few posts quickly before having to head out of the house.

[Carl]

Originally Posted by mfblume

I believe the passage in question speaks of our need to not be like the world who always wants more and never has enough. It's the spirit of greed. We have so much in the Spirit that we need to learn to be content even when we lack what others might have. The world sees others have, and many believers just have to get as much if not more. Keep up with the Jones's.

It is about possessions. Paul said he learned to be content in whatever stated he was in. If he abounded materially he was no more content than if we lacked materially. THAT is what it is talking about.

Has this been addressed? Just scanned the last few posts quickly before having to head out of the house.

Excellent discussion here! I read Aquila's comments and was so encouraged and then saw your picture Bro Blume with the sword and it reminded me of the verse about the two-edged sword piercing asunder the soul and spirit. As Aquila said so well we need to get past our soul and emotions defining our reality to live by the spirit. This can only be done by allowing the word to cause that division of soul and spirit. Something I certainly need to be reminded of. God Bless!

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esphes45

I believe like many of us God wakes us up and puts a thought in our head for the day. Mine today was Godliness with contentment is great gain. To be honest with you I am rarely content. I am always striving to be better naturally as well as spiritually. I want better in every way. Be all you can be - that's me. Now people have condemn me for being this way but this is the way God made me. Now maybe I have not found that "comfort zone" yet.

But really, is that where God wants us to be? In a state of contentment?

I have heard sermons against being neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. But then I have heard the godliness with contentment sermon also. These seem to contradict each other. I know it is probably the person teaching and not the word of God.

I would like to encourage you. Contentment is a difficult thing to experience consciously. But I assure you... you are content. You see, your inner man lives in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. He is holy and in perfect union with God. This inner man is the inner you, the higher you, the essential you. He is content. The trouble comes to us on the level of the soul, our mind or psyche. The body is always desiring comfort and pleasure, sensory input, and experience. It is hardwired this way, because it is through the body that we experience the physical reality around us. The soul (your mind) has been conditioned from birth to appease, preserve, and protect the body. This is a good thing! It keeps you from walking off of cliffs or walking through bonfires without a second thought. However, this conditioning can be a bad thing too. You see things that are desirable that you do not have. And so the impulse is, "I want it!" or "I need it!" The truth is... no you don't. lol It's that simple. It's also a concrete reality. You will not die if you don't marry a supermodel. You will not die if you do not get a new truck. You will not die if you are not rich beyond your wildest dreams. You will not die if you do not get that promotion. Nor will you die if you never have that position in church. It's an illusion. It's all an illusion constructed in your mind through conditioning.

As human beings we have a very unique ability. Reason. Yes, we can "reason". To "reason" is to think. But it is not merely "thinking". It is "defining" the reality around us. It is giving a "reason" for what we see, know, and experience. You define your "self". You define your "reality". You have the ability to define everything in your life. For example: You didn't "loose your car". You were "set free" to find something better! A simple shift in thinking, a change in definition. A shift in how you "think". A shift in how you define yourself in relation to the reality around you. Who are you? Where are you? Why are you? You define these things. And you can define them in accordance to anything. You can define them in accordance to this world's definition of success or happiness. Or you can define you and your very reality according to God's Word.

I had a talk with God in prayer once. God was teaching me this and I said,

"I just don't get it! How can I define a reality around me in accordance to your word when I don't see it?!"

God said,

"Let me show you my child. Let me declare to you that you are an astronaut."

I was dumbfounded...

"An astronaut? I've never been through astronaut training, I've never even been to NASA, nor have I ever been in outer space! I am not an astronaut!"

God impressed upon me,

"If I say you are an astronaut, you are an astronaut."

I said,

"But that's make believe, it's living a lie! Or at best, delusional thinking."

God said,

"You are an astronaut. You live in a traveling biosphere created by my hand. It spins around your star at 67,108 mph as it spins on it's axis at 1,040 km/h. As it does, your star traverses the galaxy at a rate of 782,000 km/h. AND your galaxy traverses the vastness of this universe. Now tell me that you're not an astronaut. The choice is yours."

I was floored. Through a simple change in my own perception... I realized... I can define my reality. In fact, that is why we are here. To choose what defines us. Does money, sex, pleasure, violence, power, material possessions, false gods, or any other created thing define us? Because if so, we are in grave trouble. Because those things are temporary. The very definition of who and what we are is fleeting and will pass away leaving us literally "nothings". However, if we define ourselves and our reality through that which is eternal, the Word of the Lord, we too will be... eternal.

So, you say you are not content. Your inner man is. It is your conscious mind that must align itself with the spiritual reality within. That which is the Word of God was given to us as a tool through which to do this. What is it that you are not content with? Is it something about you, a personal failing? Is it something about the failure to accomplish something or to attain something? Perhaps you need to redefine it. And in doing so, you will redefine your self.

This my friend, is known by the ancients as... faith.

Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Philippians 4:11-12
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.

Hebrews 13:5
[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1 Timothy 6:6-11
But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Luke 12:15
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 7:17
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Matthew 6:25-34
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

And my friend, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

[Aquila]

Simple teaching. Don't be anxious (filled with anxiety) over food, clothing, or any other material need. God cares for all of creation, consider the ravens and the lilies, they don't feverishly work to gain what they need, yet God provides for them. Are you not worth far more than they are? What can worry and anxiety provide you? Can worrying add a single hour to your life or an inch to your height? Nope. Absolutely not. So then, if worrying can't do something as simple as this, why waste time worrying about anything else? Consider the flowers among the garden. They don't last long, yet God clothes them in more beauty than the most glorious kings on earth. Why have you allowed your faith to be so small??? Don't feverishly toil trying to ensure that you have food, drink, clothing, or any other material need. Don't even allow yourself to become concerned or worried. Everyone in this world is clamoring about trying to attain them, wasting their time, energy, and focus... and in the end, losing their peace. God already knows everything you need. So choose not to worry or allow yourself to be filled with anxiety. Instead, focus on God's truth, His Kingdom, His Word... and you'll discover that everything you need will come your way just as your Heaven Father has purposed.