Text 1 Tim. 6:6 – 12 Fighting the good fight of godliness

A. Fighting the good fight of godliness is understanding that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” V. 6

1. People today and really people of all times have understood godliness and gain to mean godliness was a means to financial gain; however money has nothing to do with godliness.

a. Paul says in verse 5 “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

b. Paul said “contentment is great gain.” Contentment refers to a state of mind; a calm and satisfied feeling; a freedom from murmuring and complaining. Some people gain this in money others gain it through godliness however never does one gain it in both.

c. A man by the name of Jim Elliot said “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Money and treasures are what we cannot keep; however godliness and rewards we will keep for eternity.

2. Contentment in this life is being satisfied with what we have as God has given it to us, and in that living a godly life instead of seeking other things.

a. 1 Timothy 6:8 “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

b. Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

c. While the religionist of our time seeks to gain riches and never being satisfied let us seek to be satisfied with what God has given us and blessing His name by being godly. In this we will be a blessed and happy people.

B. Paul reminds us of a great truth from Job V. 7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

1. Didn’t Job say this very thing thousands of years earlier? Job 1:21 “And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

2. The Lord repeats this theme just as He repeats many themes because He wants us to understand them. God wants us to understand matter has nothing to do with godliness, it is not eternal.

3. Ecclesiastes 5:15 “As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.”

4. Luke 12:20-21 “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (21.) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

5. Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12.) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13.) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

C. Seeking earthly treasures only brings destruction and therefore bringing a separation from godliness. V. 8, 9 “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (9.) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1. If we seek godliness in this life and if we have a complete understanding that earthly matter is just earthly matter then and only then can we be content and enjoy being godly. V. 8 says “let us be therewith content”

2. This brings us to the entire verse of 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.”

3. Contentment is understanding God is with us both at home and the church and we need to trust Him and be satisfied with the gifts He gives us, regardless if it is rich of poor, lets remember Jesus had nothing on this earth He simply trusted the father.

4. Paul goes on to say in V. 9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,” Meaning the desire to be rich is, by its very nature, a desire that cannot be satiated. Those who want to be rich cannot understand contentment because they can never have enough money.

5. People that have the desire to be rich and fat refuse to be content, and their desire for money feeds their greed. Soon their passion makes "wanting more" the only value.

D. Paul goes on to say in V. 10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil:”

1. Our love for money is our separation from godliness.

a. We work more hours for more money which in return separates from our proper worship of God.

b. We fail to rightly give money to God and the church which separates us from godliness.

c. We are greedy and fail to help our fellow Christians which separates us from godliness.

2. Our love for money and not being content destroys families, homes and churches and therefore makes our love for it a sin.

3. Paul goes on to say in V. 10 “they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Money can lead us away from our faith and godliness and lead us to many sorrows.

4. The religionist thrive on money. Paul said in Titus 1:11 “Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.”

E. Paul ends with this thought stay the course and be godly.

1. Paul gives us our command V. 11 “O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

2. He tells us it will not be easy V. 12 “Fight the good fight of faith,” The verb tense in the Greek implies that this fight is an ongoing, continual process requiring diligence and discipline.

3. This is not new to our time Timothy would continue a "fight" already begun by others. We as believers today continue the "fight" for which Timothy and Paul offered their lives.