We’re looking at Paul’s first letter to... Timothy.  Today we’re at 1 Timothy 6:3.  We are exploring the question:  What is a... healthy church?  What does “healthy church” look like in the real time of where we live our lives? 

This morning we’re looking at the vital sign indicator of healthy - the vital sign of contentment. 

The Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index - think Gallup polls - they came out with the results of their annual survey of more than 353,000 Americans.  They asked people to assess their jobs, finances, physical health, emotional state of mind and their communities.  In other words “How do you feel about where you’re living?”  “How content are you with where you’re at?”

Number one on the list is... Naples, Florida.  West coast of Florida.  Beach front.  Gorgeous.

Number two?  Salinas, California.  Makes you want to question the results.  Doesn’t it?

Bottom of the pile at #190 is Charleston, West Virginia.

Fresno came in at #86 - which is up from where they were at #103.  Stockton is #107.  Bakersfield #144.  Modesto #153 - up from #161.  Chico - by the way - came in at #186.  Not so good.

Merced wasn’t on the list.  Neither were Atwater and Plenada.  We’re not big enough yet.  Maybe that’s good. 

We live in a culture where people are not content.

(cartoon)  “Miss Wormwood, I protest this ‘C’ Grade!  That’s saying I only did and ‘average’ job!  I got 75% of the answers correct, and in today’s society, doing something 75% right is outstanding!  If government and industry were 75% competent, we’d be ecstatic!  I won’t stand for this artificial standard of performance!  I demand an ‘A’ for this kind of work!”  “I think it’s really gross how she drinks Maalox straight from the bottle.”

Contentment is not entitlement.  We live in a culture where people have the idea that we are inherently deserving of privileges and special treatment.  Which - bottom line - is about us.  What we get.  What others owe us.  Tax the rich because they’re... rich.  Give stuff to the poor because if we’re breathing and occupying space we’re entitled to have stuff.

If you give a mouse a cookie…  he’s gonna want a glass of milk.  We always want more.

Entitlement focuses on what I demand for myself.  Insatiably pursuing what I cannot satisfy.  Which puts us in competition with others around us.  Which creates a culture of people disconnected from each other - living with uncertainty and distrust and fear and anger.  Discontent.

Look around.  There’s no contentment in any of that. 

God gives to us the privilege to displaying His glory in the places where we do life.  Contentment with God and what God has for us is a huge contrast to the self-driven discontent that surrounds us.

So, if not just for ourselves - and what it means to be healthy church - or healthy people in a healthy church - for those we live with we need to be clear on contentment and what God has for us as His people.

Let’s read Paul and then come back and think about what it means.

You all are group one.  You all are group two.

Group One:  If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.

Group Two:  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.

Group One:  Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 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.

Group Two:  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.

Group One:  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.

Group Two:  But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.  Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

In verse 3 Paul goes straight to our hearts:  What Motivates Us 

At the heart level - deep inside - what really motives us - drives us - itches us under the skin - to be content or discontent with our lives? 

If anyone teaches a different doctrine - teaches something different - teaching that doesn’t agree with sound words…  Sound words in the Greek has the idea of what promotes spiritual health - the words that our Lord Jesus taught - teaching that leads to godliness - teaching that’s spiritually healthy.  If someone is trying to teach something different he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.  In reality, he has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words - arguments - battles over 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.    

Paul gives us an example from a real time situation in the Ephesian church.  A real time example of what can go on deep inside us - what can motivate us - as we think about what we have and what we desire - our contentment or discontentment with our lives.

We’ve seen in past Sundays that there were those in the Ephesian church who were teaching what was contrary to what Jesus taught.  At the heart level - Paul writes - they’re puffed up with conceit and understand nothing.

(Balloon Video)  Short video showing Paul’s point… 

These men are conceited.  They’re all puffed up - huge but empty - all blow no show - desiring to get recognition and respect they didn’t deserve.  Acting like they know something about God and His word when in reality they don’t have a clue what they were talking about. 

Paul writes - out of that puffed up conceit comes a deadly interest in controversy and questions and disputes.

There’s a saying, “An Irishman doesn’t know what he believes but he’s willing to die for it.” 

Not like we’d ever fall into this trap.  But we experience this with others.  Some people enjoy a good fight - a good controversy or dispute or battle over doctrine or theology - or politics or just about anything they can get a response about.  Kudos if they can get people texting and tweeting and liking on stuff they post.  It strokes their egos to be at the center of all that.  Makes them feel puffed up - important - like they’re knowledgeable - an important part of something.

Paul writes al that only leads to envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction…

Resentment builds.  A cancer in the church.  Words get said - tearing at reputations - openly or in secret.  Every action - every word is suspect - interpreted - examined for motivation.  The anger and hurt builds - boils beneath the surface.  People choose sides.  They can’t stand to be in the same room together.  People leave not under God blessed circumstances.

Ever been there?  Sadly, too many of us have.

In verse 5 Paul exposes the motivation that’s driving their actions.  people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth - literally, these wannabe teachers have minds that have been corrupted their own desires - desires that have nothing to do with the truth of God’s word - what it means to live life with the living God - placing our trust - our lives in His will for us.

Their actions - their puffy arguments - show that - in their hearts - in what motivates them - the truth of God and life in Jesus - inside they don’t know the truth.   Something else is driving them.

Going on in verse 5 - these men imagine that godliness is a means of gain.  That’s the motivation - selfish greed - filling the emptiness - the discontent within - pursuing contentment by their own means and effort and accomplishment.  Their motivation is self - not God.

We’re either focused on God or we’re focused on ourselves.  There is no middle ground.

About that time the Apostle Philip arrived in town and began preaching the Gospel.  A lot of people believed in Jesus and we’re baptized -  including Simon.  When the news about all these conversions got back to Jerusalem - Peter and John came up to Samaria to pray for the new believers and to lay hands on them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit - a sign of unity - connecting the believers in Jerusalem with the new believers in Samaria.

When Simon - “The Great Power of God” - saw what Peter and John were doing - the laying on of hands and the receiving of the Holy Spirit - the God given authority and recognition that Peter and John had in the community - Simon offered the Apostles money.  He said, “Give this authority to me so that everyone I lay my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.”  He saw godliness as a means to gain something for himself.

Peter says to Simon, “May your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.  Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”  (Acts 8:9-24 NIV)

Godliness is having a heart level right attitude towards God and conduct that displays that attitude.

Many people come to Jesus - to Jesus’ church - because they’re not content with what’s going on in their lives.  Many come for some kind of quick fix from God.  American culture is like that.  Pop a pill and fix it.  Have an operation.  Throw money at it and hope it goes away.

Then when God begins to work in their lives - being around God and His people - when their lives get a tad more manageable - rather than giving their lives to God and seeking His complete healing - salvation - forgiveness of sin - wholeness in Christ - what is a God led transformation of their lives - that means a totally new God led direction for their lives - they flake out.  Because the heart motivation is about us - what God can do for me.

Costco Christianity.  Big box church.  Lot’s of ministry selection.  Free samples.  Total anonymity - freedom to blend in with the other shoppers.  No commitment.

The issue isn’t big church or small church.  It’s our motivation in being there.

(cartoon)  “We’re teaching our children the importance of regular church attendance…  what time should we pick them up?” 

Many people see Christianity only as a great moral lifestyle.  A great benefit to how we live life.  A great environment for the kids where they can learn something.  Dropping them off sets a good example for them.

Some people see church as some kind of happy hunting grounds - a place to find someone to marry.  Someone with similar values.

The church is a place to conduct business - to meet friends - a community gathering place.  The Creekside Evangelical Free Club.

Some people have the idea that Godliness is doing Godly things - showing up for services - giving money - not swearing - too much.  Trying to earn God’s blessing - contentment coming from God - buying all that with a godly lifestyle.

But don’t talk to us about all that joining in the suffering of Jesus stuff - taking up our cross and living life like Jesus did - sacrificing ourselves - loosing our lives.  That’s just over the top.  I’m not here for all that.  Just keep me awake during the sermon - give me something to encourage me - and then let me get on with my life.

Godliness isn’t a commodity - something to be traded for or earned by our own efforts.  Godliness isn’t about us.  All that God offers us in a relationship with Him isn’t about us.  If were working to achieve Godliness by doing what satisfies our own egos - working for Godliness by our own efforts - we’ll never find the contentment we’re looking for. 

Paul writes, that self-serving motivation is depraved and deprived- self-destructive - a motivation that has nothing to do with true godliness.

Godliness is having a heart level right attitude towards God and conduct that displays that attitude.

Going on in verse 6:  Now - meaning in contrast - there is great gain in godliness with contentment

There’s a whole different motivation here - Godliness and contentment.  The two go together at the heart level.

A great definition of contentment comes from the perspective of the tortoise:  “Contentment is being at ease in our own shell.”

The Greek word here for contentment “autarkeias” means sufficiency - satisfaction.  Having all we need and wanting only that much.

Put another way.  When we get God we get contentment.  When we get contentment we get godliness.  Let’s say that together:  “When we get God we get contentment.  When we get contentment we get godliness.”    

When - at the heart of who we are - our motivation is God - not us - we experience true contentment.  When we’re content with God we begin to experience true godliness.

Processing all that… 

Coming to verses 7 to 11 - Paul is going to give us Four Principles of Contentment to help us think through what all that means for us in real time.

First principal of contentment:  You Can’t Take It With You. 

Verse 7:  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

A few millennia ago the Egyptian pharaohs built huge pyramids with large vaults filled with riches that would make Bill Gates envious.  They had themselves mummified - stuffed and preserved - for the next life.  Today we have museums filled with rotting mummies and Egyptian artifacts.

Jesus told a parable of a rich man who had a bumper crop.  Remember this?  He’d harvested so much grain he didn’t know what to do with it.  He was rich.  So he decided to expand his business.  He began to dream of how he was going to enjoy life and his retirement.  Expansion - wealth - no end in sight.  On the night he was dreaming about all that what happened?  This upward mobile rich man died. (Luke 12:16-21)

Job put it this way, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there.” (Job 1:21)

Yet, somehow in our deluded way of thinking - when we get our eyes off of God and onto ourselves - we think we can take it with us.  So many people today are working very hard at producing nothing of lasting value.

They’re giving everything - sacrificing family - friendships - health - relationship with God - stressing themselves out - burning themselves out 26/7 - trying to obtain contentment through the accumulation of wealth and things and reputation and experiences.  Trying to hang on to all that - filling up their houses and garages and renting storage space - hanging on to stuff like it really counts for something.

First principle of contentment - let’s recognize that we can’t take it with us.  So why are we living like we can?

Second principle of contentment:  God Takes Care of His Own. 

Verse 8:  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

During the Exodus - about 2½ months after the Hebrews had left Egypt -  the people began to complain.  They said, “We wish God would have killed us back in Egypt.  At least there we had plenty to eat.  There was bread and meat.  But, you - Moses and Aaron - have brought us out into this wilderness to kill us with starvation.” 

God - being very merciful with this group of whiners - God told Moses what He was going to supply the needs of His people and what the people were suppose to do.  We’re together on this?  Right?

God was going to rain down bread from heaven - manna - each morning the people were to do what?  Go out and gather up whatever bread they needed just for that day.  Every sixth day the people were to gather enough bread for 2 days - the seventh day being the Sabbath - when God wouldn’t send bread and the people weren’t suppose to work or bake anyway.  That’s pretty basic - gather only as much bread as you need for one day.  No more - except on the 6th day.

The focus here is what?  God and what God is teaching His people about Himself.

On the sixth day - the bread they kept according to God’s instructions - gathering enough for two days - what happened to it?  It stayed fresh - even though it was kept over night.

So, the people learned.  God’s got our back.  Trust God.  (Exodus 16:1-36)

Jesus said this, “Don’t worry about your life - what you’ll eat or what you’ll wear.  There’s more to life than food and clothing.  Look at the ravens.  God takes care of them.  Look at the lilies.  God takes care of them.  You can’t add a single day to your life.  So why are you trying too?  Don’t worry.  Seek God’s kingdom first.  Make that your priority - your heart motivation - And God will take care of everything else.” (Luke 12:22-34)

Way too often were robbing ourselves of contentment stressing out over what God never intends for us to stress out over.  Anyone ever do that?

Be satisfied with what God gives you today.  Let God take care of what you’ll need tomorrow.  God takes care of His own.  Trust God.

If we could get a hold of that reality - down at the heart level - it would transform our lives.

 
Then the third principle of contentment:  You Can’t Buy Happiness. 

Ed was in trouble.  He forgot his wedding anniversary.  His wife was really angry.  She told him, “Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in less than 6 seconds, and it better be there!”

The next morning Ed got up early and left for work.  When his wife woke up she looked out the window and sure enough, there was a wrapped box - red ribbon - red bow - sitting in the middle of the driveway.

Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway and brought the box back in the house.  She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.  Ed has been missing since Wednesday.

Verse 9 - you can’t buy happiness - 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.

Rabobank is a Dutch bank - which focuses on food and agri-business - verses Robabank - which is focused on greed and getting whatever we want when we want it.

Our culture is about instant gratification.  People trying to buy happiness - running up credit debt - buying stuff they have no clue about how they’re going to pay for it.  Then they’re surprised that they’re in financial trouble.  Remember all those foreclosures back 8 years ago?  We don’t seem to learn.

Then when God wants to use what He’s blessed them with they’ve spent it and a whole lot more.  They’re so tied up in debt that when God puts an opportunity in front of them - an opportunity to be hugely blessed by God and to hugely bless others - to experience real blessing coming from God - true contentment in their lives - they’re so trapped in their own pit of self-serving debt that they have no way of being a part of what God is doing.

Don’t miss that:  This buy now pay later instant gratification - I’m entitled to it now - attempt at contentment leads us away from what God has for us today and robs us of God’s future blessing.

Money isn’t the root of all evil.  What is?  The love of money is the root of all evil.  An unhealthy desire - a heart motivation focused on wealth - stuff we think will bring contentment.

Money represents security - investment - influence - control.  There’s prudence to the wise use of money.  There were a number of wealthy men in the Bible who were blessed by God.  Wealth is not the problem.  Motivation is. 

Jesus - in talking about birds and flowers - Jesus is asking, “Where’s your heart?  In what or whom are you trusting?”  Our attitude towards wealth and material things shows us the priority of our hearts - the priority of our character - our will - the inner core of who we are.

That’s why Paul uses wealth as an example for us.  At the heart level, what are you desiring? 

We need to be very careful with the priorities of our heart especially when it comes to wealth.  Longing for money and what money brings verses what God has for us - that longing is a trap - a mirage.  Enticing.  Yes.  But, still a trap.

Paul warns us - thinking we can buy contentment is the beginning of a plunge into a bottomless pit of ruin and destruction.  Trusting in money we open ourselves up to a host of sins - pride - selfishness - covetousness - greed - what pulls us away from our relationship with God - and true contentment.

The fourth principle of contentment:  Choose to Pursue God. 

Verse 11:  But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.  Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

 
Erika Greene was a 20 year old warehouse worker in Dacula Georgia - just north east of Atlanta.  One day she did something she’d never done before.  She went into a Texaco station - spent $10 and bought two lottery tickets.  Erika became one of three winners of the $331 million Big Game jackpot.  She choose the cash option - which meant that in - before taxes money - Erika won $58.9 million.

Some people hearing that might say, “She is so lucky.”  Hearing that they’re already thinking about how to spend that money.  10% to the church.  Take care of God.  Quit my job.  Buy a canal front home in La Grand.  Hire a chauffer for the combine.  Some of you are thinking, “I hope that never happens to me.” 

A while back in the pocket of a rich man who had just committed suicide they found $30,000 in cash and a note.  The note said, “I have discovered during my life that piles of money do not bring happiness.  I am taking my life because I no longer can stand the solitude and boredom.  When I was an ordinary workman in New York I was happy.  Now that I possess millions I am infinitely sad and prefer death.” (1)

Paul writes, “Flee from these things.  RUN!”   The Greek word is “pheugo.”  Like Yugo - only more powerful.  Most cars are.  YOU GO!!!  Forget what’s behind.  Throw away the rear view mirror.  Put the pedal to the metal.  Floor it.  Drive away. 

“Pursue” is a word that has the idea of running someone down.  Imagine doing that in a Yugo.

The pursuit has passion.  Someone grabs your child and you’re putting everything you are in catching that person and there’s gonna be a lot hurt when you do.  That’s the kind of passion that’s in this word “pursue.” 

Flee is to run from.  Pursue is to run towards.  Both are choices of the heart.  Choose to flee from.  Choose to pursue towards.  Meaning we can’t run in two directions at the same time.  We’ve got to make up our mind which direction we’re going to run.  And then run that way with everything we are.  There is not turning back.

We need to do the reality check that we need to flee from what’s killing us.  To choose to turn our life away from seeking contentment apart from God - what Paul has been writing about here in chapter 6 - and to choose to pursue God with everything we are. 

Verse 11 is a list to get us started.  Pursue these and you’re pursuing God.

First - Pursue Righteousness:  Pursue living life in the way that God approves of - living right before God.  Saying no to what’s wrong and yes to what’s right according to what God says is right - regardless of what those around us may be saying - regardless of what it may seem to cost us personally.

Second - Pursue Godliness:  Pursue living life with a reverence and a respect for God - not just on Sundays or when we’re hanging around Christians.  But 24/7/365 life with God.

Third - Pursue Faith:  Choose to trust God.  To live putting our confidence in God and God alone.  In the stuff of life - in our relationships - in our daily needs - take hold of God’s promises and live trusting God.

Fourth - Pursue Love:  Live with compassion for others.  We need to see others as God sees us.  As those who need help - encouragement - understanding - grace - mercy - forgiveness.  People who need to know that God loves them.  That God desires for them to know Him and live with Him through life.  Pursue sharing God’s love with others.

Fifth - Pursue Steadfastness - perseverance:  Be immovable - doggedly determined to continue following after God - to hang in and hang on with God - regardless of what the world throws at you.

Sixth - Pursue Gentleness:  Which means relying on God rather than our own strength - even when we’re wronged by others.

God gives us a choice.  The emptiness of this world or contentment that’s found only in Him.

The bottom line in what Paul writes here - the bottom line of all this is our hearts.  What motivates us?   Which is the contrast that Paul makes - men who have given their hearts and lives to the on the empty pursuit of pleasing themselves versus those who have focused their hearts and lives on God.  Those who get God and get contentment.

Processing all that:  What or Whom are you pursuing?

The world needs to see that contentment lived out in our lives.  Men - like that man with $30,000 in his pocket - alone in death - people need to see the alternative found in Jesus Christ. 

They need to see churches and believers in Jesus Christ that trust in God and not the amount of their investments.  Churches that believe in God’s promises not the bottom line in a budget.  Churches that are learning to pray together - to study together - to worship together - to pursue God together.  Believers in Jesus Christ who are learning to listen together to the voice of God for direction and not the shifting winds of politics or the economy.

________________________

1. W.A. Maier, “For Better Not For Worse”

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.