financial gain from contentment. Paul would have nodded approvingly of the story
of a king who was suffering from a persistent malady and was advised by his wise
men that he would be cured if the shirt of a contented man were brought for him
to wear. The search began for a contented man, but none could be found. So emissaries were sent to the edge of the realm, and after a long search a man was found
who was truly content. But he had no shirt!”
“Godliness as a Means of Gain, Not A Means of Gain”
1st Timothy 6:2b-10
Sunday | June 7th , 2015 | Pastor Patrick Bowler
“The pursuit of material riches is empty and futile… Contentment is inextricably linked with godliness… It is in Christ that we possess both ‘godliness’ and
‘contentment’—‘great gain’ beyond the dreams of avarice [or greed]. We may
become shirtless and shoeless and even homeless, but if we have Christ’s life, his
godliness, and his sufficiency, we will be rich.” 1
Discuss:
Consult the Scriptures:
1 Timothy 6:2b-10 “Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different
doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the
teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands
nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about
words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining
that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for
we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who
desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful
desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root
of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from
the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Philippians 4:11-13 “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(See also Rom. 1:18-32, Php. 3:4-11, Titus 1:10-11)
1. Pastor Patrick opened the sermon sharing stories about the general perception
Define “contentment” as a group. Do you struggle being content? Why or why
not?
2. Pastor Patrick repeatedly said, “Either Jesus is at the center or we are.” What
did he mean by that? Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why
not?
3. Read Philippians 3:4-11 and discuss as relates to the issue of contentment.
4. The title of Pastor Patrick’s sermon was “Godliness as a Means of Gain, Not a
Means of Gain.” What idea was he trying to convey?
5. What gain is there in true godliness? In keeping Jesus at the center?
6. What immediate applications can be made in light of this text?
7. Read 1 Timothy 3:16 and close in worshipful prayer.
Consult the Scholars:
[R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell] “Those who thought that ‘godliness is
a means of gain’ (v. 5b) were partly right. There is great gain in godliness, with
the proviso that it be coupled with contentment—‘godliness with contentment is
great gain’ (v. 6). Here the ‘gain’ is spiritual not financial. Paul implicitly separates
------------------------------1R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell, Preaching The Word: 1-2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit
(Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), p. 157-158.
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