While spending time in the word this week I came upon this verse, Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 1Tim 1:6. It jumped off the page and grabbed my attention, these seven words speak loudly. Godliness is holiness and contentment is satisfaction. The godly person has reverence and respect towards God and the things of God while the content person has peace.
The godly person has great riches because he is content. To be content means your soul is quiet and at peace. This means your mind is satisfied in Christ Jesus and no weapon formed against [it] you shall prosper (Isa 54:17). The world is full of assaults against our minds, lusts of the flesh scream at us trying to get us to want more of the tangible things of the world. Gluttony constantly says “you’re not satisfied.” The person who has both godliness and contentment is soul satisfied. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
The world tells us that to gain means to own, to have, to do, taste, feel, and see, but Jesus asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mar 8:36) Satisfaction in material things will only last a short while, then the gaping soul hole will begin to cry out for more. The spirits of lust, greed, and poverty will begin to speak louder than contentment and eventually the next “spend” is on. A person will begin to spend their money, time, energy, and thoughts on the things of the world and eventually lose whatever peace they thought they gained by their latest spend.
Where are Your Treasures
Jesus said “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mat 6:19-21)
There is another side that pursues godliness through works, leaving a person drained of energy because they are never satisfied in a works or performance mindset. The godly person that has no joy is always spinning their wheels to do the next thing to gain appreciation, attention, and affection. They walk in the sludge that weighs them down and makes every effort harder than the previous one.
This godly person without contentment is religious. They look good on a Sunday morning, always dressed well with a smile while serving in burnout mode or struggling with secret sin. This person may desire, in secret, the things of the world but because they know that is not what they should desire they press those desires and lusts down instead of allowing the word of God to set their minds free. The “never enough” stronghold can affect anyone and in various ways. The goal is always to distract from and destroy the plans and purposes of God.
The world says to “pursue happiness” but God says to pursue holiness. Pursue means to go or proceed after or in a like manner; to seek to obtain and to imitate. Jesus told His disciples to deny themselves and follow Him. Follow means to do as He does, imitate; and Paul said “imitate me as I also imitate Christ (1Co 11:1).” This is saying give up your pursuit of this world and the things of it and pursue the things of the kingdom. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added to you. (Mat 6:33)
A son or daughter of God should eagerly:
Pursue the things which make for peace (Rom 14:19)
Pursue love, and spiritual gifts (1Co 14:1)
Pursue what is good for yourself and all (1Th 5:15)
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness and peace (1Ti 6:11, 2Tim 2:22)
Pursue peace and holiness (Heb 12:14
Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. (1Pet 3:11)
Peace the Soul Ruler
If you have ever lived a life with an out of control mind,
with thought processes that make you feel insane
than you understand how powerful peace is. There’s a consistent occurrence of the word peace throughout the word of God. With so many emotions that can run rampant in our souls it is easy for a person to stray from the peace of God but we are encouraged over and over to seek, pursue, and allow peace to rule us.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Col 3:15)
Peace. Rest. Joy. Contentment. These are words that should reside within the soul of every believer of Christ Jesus. These are the rulers of our souls and anything that speaks against these are of the devil or our out of control minds (flesh). There is a peace that surpasses all understanding and it can be found in the middle of every storm if we would seek the Holy Spirit to release it.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, according to Your word I should be walking in a lifestyle of peace and yet the daily distractions cause me to lose Your peace and focus on things outside of Your kingdom will. Today I repent for allowing any other spirit to rule my soul, I repent for allowing gluttony and the lust of the flesh to distract me from You and to cause me to sin. I choose to be content with all I have in You and am thankful that You meet all of my needs. I ask You to release Your peace over me right now, that I may sense it and receive it. Open my heart Lord to Your peace reside in me and cause any fear and anxiety to leave me now in Jesus name. I thank You that you have given me direction to shod my feet with the preparation of the gospel so that I might walk according to Your ways, in peace. Help me pursue peace, holiness, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness so that my life may be one that brings You glory. In Jesus name, Amen