Paul warns Timothy about "…people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:5-10)
In 1987 a study done by a sociologist at the University of Illinois found that, "People most dissatisfied with their paychecks are those who earn about 25 percent more than average… and that a raise in salary rarely makes anybody happy, but those who get raises quickly adjust - to higher levels of dissatisfaction."
Does More Money Make You Content?
Do you think that's true? The more you have, the less content you are? The more you have, the more you want?
I think it's spot on. In fact, so did Solomon, when he wrote this hundreds of years earlier than Paul: "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
Paul knew that verse! For him, food and clothing were enough. We didn't come into the world with any possessions, and we'll take none with us to heaven. So, he teaches, let's be content with necessities, and not get obsessed with more and more money, which in the end causes us to wander from the faith.
Did you notice that Paul said godliness with contentment is great gain? So, if you can be godly, and be content with that, you'll gain more than you ever will with money.
Question: What excites you more: the thought of becoming more godly and holy, or the thought of more money?
Is Money Evil?
Now, let's put this in its right perspective here. Remember, a few weeks ago, we heard Paul saying that a person who doesn't provide for their family is worse than an unbeliever. So he's not advocating that we all seek poverty. He wants us to provide and care for our families. We need money for that.
Remember last week, how he said that the elders should be compensated fairly for the work they do, because the worker deserves his wages. So he's not advocating for poverty. He's advocating for fair salaries and earning.
Money is not evil. It's the love of money that is evil.
Where Real Contentment Comes From
What Paul is against is the love of money and eagerness for money, which really hurts your faith. He's warning against finding your contentment in your bank account, or finding your worth in your income.
Friends, Christians should be the most content and peaceful of all people, because of our great faith!
We should be wise and thoughtful about our money, yes, but it should never become our obsession and our great desire
Swindoll got it right when he said: "Money can buy us tons of comfort, but not an ounce of contentment."
Paul says godliness with contentment is great gain, and he warns that the love of money has led many away from the faith. Ask yourself today which excites you more, becoming more godly or having more money, and bring your honest answer to God.