Bible

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GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT

(1Timothy 6:6-8) 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.

(Godliness – Devoted to God – having the divine qualities of God)

(Contentment – a state of happiness and satisfaction) 

  The Apostle Paul tells us that godliness with contentment is great gain.  In our consumeristic society it is hard to imagine being content.  But wouldn’t it be great to live devoted to God, have his divine qualities, and live in a state of happiness and satisfaction?  That would be great gain indeed.  Well, I think that will be our natural state in eternity.  Reaching that state here in our earthly dwelling is a challenge.  Paul’s instruction to Timothy here in chapter 6 helps us find the path to godliness and contentment.

In the first five verses of Chapter 6 Paul talks about how we should treat each other.  What I get from these verses is that focusing on the needs of others and letting God take care of us is the best way to Godliness and contentment.  Our lives should be entrusted to the hand of God whatever our situation.  It’s much easier to be Godly when we surrender to the fact that God is in charge, and trust him with our basic needs and social status.  Our position in life is a part of God’s plan for us.  It is okay to be where God has placed us.  He knows best.

(1Timothy 6:9-10) 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.

Here in verses 9 and 10 Paul gives the final clarification of what can distract us from Godliness and keep us from contentment.  The love of money, and therefore the things that money can buy, leads us down a path of discontent and away from God. 

So we find in these verses the means to gaining a godly perspective.  Having a Godly perspective will set us on the path to Godliness and contentment.

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TAKING CONTROL OF OUR THOUGHTS

(Philippians 4:8) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Did you ever stop and think about what you are thinking?  Have you ever asked yourself why am I thinking this?  Throughout the day, as we are going about our business, our minds are busy thinking all kinds of thoughts.  Sometimes the mind gets into some pretty dark places.  The Apostle Paul gives us a list of things that can help us direct our minds.

The first thing Paul mentions is “whatever is true.”  I sometimes catch myself thinking something negative about a person. Then I suddenly realize “that’s not true”.  Where did that thought come from?  One possibility is the enemy.  Yes, I have an enemy who can whisper a lie into my ears.  If I believe the lie, a whole chain of bad thoughts can proceed.  The next thing you know I am angry at that person, and it all stems from a lie.   This is why I need to be aware of what I’m thinking and take control of my thoughts.

Thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy presents quite a challenge, but what a worthwhile approach to our thought life.  If we could master this way of thinking, just imagine how our days would be happier with less stress, and our relationships much more pleasant. 

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GOD’S INVITATION

(Jeremiah 29:12&13) Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

The world is inundated with theories, religious ideas, and deceptions concerning God.    From denying God’s existence to religious fanaticism, the topic of a god or gods has been with us since the beginning.  All of us have chosen to be aligned with one or more opinions about God. 

The Bible contains many invitations from God for us to find him.  Is he real, does he care about us, can we really know him?  He makes it clear that if we respond to his invitation, we won’t be disappointed.  We will find the answer to our questions.

Think of seeking God as a great adventure.  He has a kingdom filled with wonderful treasures that can be yours.  Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it (see Matthew 13:45&46).”  In this world we seek out many things, but God and his kingdom is the greatest find and worthy of giving up everything else.

As I write this blog post, I do it with full confidence shored up by more than forty years of walking with our loving God.  If you seek him with all your heart, you will find him.  He wants us to come to him; he desires a relationship with all of us. 

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QUESTIONING GOD’S LOVE

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

As the principal of a Christian school, I often had the opportunity to meet with parents.  One particular meeting I have never forgotten.  The meeting was with a mother who was distressed over her child, her financial situation, and other family difficulties.  In the course of sharing her trials, she made the statement that she and her son had been discussing whether God still loved them.  I responded to that statement by saying that we could never doubt God’s love because of the cross.  It was apparent right away that my response had impacted her, yet I was equally impacted by these words.   It was as if a third party had intervened and spoken to us.  That is why this meeting among the many others has remained prominent in my memory.

Questioning God’s love for us during times of testing is a very human thing to do.  When times are hard and trials are many, we may feel alone and unloved.  However, the question of whether he loves us was indeed answered by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.    Jesus himself said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  God has demonstrated in an undeniable way his love for us.  Even in our darkest hour, this light of truth shines through.  “God loves you” is not just a tired cliché but an eternal truth.

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THANKING GOD FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

(Psalm 118:21) I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 

There are many reasons to give thanks to the Lord.  The obvious number one reason is our salvation.  Our sins are forgiven because Jesus took our sins upon himself and paid the ransom for us on the cross. And then there’s eternal life.  I’m also very grateful for that.  But what about the everyday answers to our prayers.  Sometimes I just go on about my business, and I don’t even recognize that God has answered my prayer. 

A couple of weeks ago, my wife called me from the bathroom saying she couldn’t turn off the water to the bathtub.  I quickly went to the bathroom to see what the problem was.  The valve had stuck open and wouldn’t stop pouring water into the tub.  I tried to get it closed and finally hit it very hard with my fist.  Fortunately the bruise on my hand was worth it.  The valve closed.

With company coming, I quickly got to work fixing it.  I shut off the water to the house, and, with my handy valve pulling tool (I’m proud of my specialty tools), I managed to extract the valve.  I took it to the Ace Hardware man, and he pulled one off the rack for me. Away I went to install my new valve.  As with most easy fixes, there was a problem.  I couldn’t get the new valve to fit right.  I tried everything I could think of to make it work even modifying the pin that held the valve in place.  Nothing worked.  The best I could accomplish was warm water.  If I turned the knob to the hot side I got warm water, to the cold side I got warm water.  I finally decided that the Ace Hardware man gave me the wrong valve.

After company left and I had a day when I was home alone, I turned off the water, pulled the valve, and headed back to the Ace Hardware. 

The purpose of telling you this story has a lot to do with that second trip to the hardware store.  Driving along, I realized that I was having trouble catching my breath.  I remembered only one other time did this happened to me.  The doctor told me that it was anxiety.  Yes, I was overly worked up about this valve problem.  I began to pray and ask the Lord to help me.  I asked that he’d help me resolve this problem.

Arriving at the store, I hastily went to the plumbing department to discuss the problem.  During the discussion to convince the man behind the counter that I had the wrong valve, I showed him how the pin didn’t fit.  He reached over and turned the valve 90 degrees.  The pin fit just like it was supposed to, and he pointed out that now with the valve in the correct position the hot and cold would work correctly.  A moment of silence prevailed.  My error became so obvious.  I thanked him for straightening me out, pick up the valve, and left the building.

Even in my humiliated state, I understood that my anxious moments were finished.  Now I could go home and restore normal valve function to the bathtub.  I was elated that the problem was resolved.    Then the realization came over me that God had answered my prayer.  I spent the rest of the trip home expressing thankfulness to God, for he had answered me. 

Asking God for help, for wisdom and guidance in these everyday situations, is a big part of my relationship with God.  I find that he is always faithful to answer me.  I just need to be faithful to thank him.

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HUMBLENESS, AN ATTRIBUTE OF GOD

One of my favorite scripture passages is Matthew 11:28-30.  In this passage Jesus refers to himself as “gentle and humble in heart”.  Doesn’t gentle and humble sound safe.  I am drawn to him when I think of him being gentle and humble.  Paul supports Jesus’ statement that he is humble with this declaration in Philippians 2:6-8,

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!

Jesus not only declared himself humble, but he unequivocally demonstrates his humble nature on the cross.  When you think of God, do you think of him as humble?  That’s not my first thought when I think of God, but he truly is humble.  So, what is humble? In all the definitions of humble, I find that not putting yourself first seems to clarify its meaning.  Jesus did not put himself first.  He put our needs ahead of his.

Adam and Eve were humble because they were created in the image of God.  They lost this attribute as a result of the fall.  They then became self concerned.  At the start of Philippians chapter 2 Paul is exhorting us to return to being humble.  He tells us, (Philippians 2:3-4) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  He follows this with the scriptural illustration in Philippians 2:6-8 of Christ’s humility.

In our desire to be more like Jesus, humbleness should be near the top of the list.  As I looked at this attribute of God, I had to ask myself, am I gentle and humble in heart?  Am I safe for others? 

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WE ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE

(Romans 1:20) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Though our world is scarred by sin and deprivation, it is still beautiful and amazing.  Photographers make a living selling photos of the beauty and wonder of the earth. Scientists are forever making phenomenal discoveries about God’s creation.  Paul tells us that the contents of creation demonstrate God’s invisible qualities, and that they have been clearly seen. 

Take for example: we now know that all matter is composed from a collection of atoms, we have also discovered that there are sub-atomic particles, and all living matter is developed from a DNA chain.  We know that these things exist, but we can’t see them. In our modern times perhaps we have identified some of God’s invisible qualities.  He makes wonderful things both large and minute.

Three thousand years ago David looked up at the night sky and declared, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them (Psalm 8:3&4) ?”  God’s attributes have indeed been clearly seen since the time of creation. 

Our knowledge of the world and its content has indeed exploded in the last few centuries, so Paul’s words should be inordinately more profound in leading us to God.  Why then do people still try to deny the existence of God? 

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NO GRUMBLING OR ARGUING

(Philippians 2:14-16)  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation (see Deuteronomy 32:5).”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life…

I’m not a person who likes to argue, but I can sure grumble at times.  Unfortunately, grumbling often causes me to wind up in an argument.   You’d think I’d learn.  As an older man, I find that there’s a lot to grumble about.  Tiredness, pain, and deteriorating senses can open a lot of doors for grumping.

In verses 3 and 4 of Philippians chapter 2, Paul tells us how to avoid succumbing to the temptation to grumble and argue.    “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  Paul then continues by reminding us that Jesus lived out the example of looking to the interests of others.

I find when I get all about myself that the tiredness increases, the pain is more intense, and my diminishing ability to hear and see is depressing.  When I’m looking to others, I’m less tired, the pain is not so obvious, and my sensory deficits become comedy relief.  I’m always amazed how this changing of perspective, seeing things the way Jesus does, produces greater blessing and makes me a nicer person.

In light of what Jesus did for us, and his command to love one another, I find that I have great incentive to take Paul’s admonition seriously.   After all, I am a child of God.  Grumbling and arguing makes me a dark cloud.  I’d rather be a shining star.

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LEAVING THE MISERY AND FINDING NEW LIFE

(Psalm 116: 1-9)  I love the Lord because he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.  Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.  The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.  Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”  The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, He saved me.  Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.  For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Anyone who has received Jesus, and the work he did for us on the cross, is familiar with the process that these verses convey.  It begins when we come to the end of ourselves and cry out to the Lord.  And, often to our amazement, he answers us.  Thus begins the new life we didn’t even know existed.

This new life affords us rest for our souls, and we begin to recognize God’s goodness.  We see his provision in our lives, his protection, and his peace and comfort.  We begin to rely on him which is what he wants for us.  A loving relationship begins to develop between us and our creator.  The new life has its trials and troubles, but we never again have to face them alone.  The new life runs amazingly better than the old life, and the real advantage is that it lasts forever.

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MY HIDING PLACE

 (Psalm 32:7 KJV) Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

Imagine a hiding place, a place of refuge where you can hide when you’re troubled. As a child, I found that the top of a tree was a safe place.  No one could reach me there, and the leaves hid me from sight.  I felt cradled in the branches of the tree.  Trees became my hiding place.  In a chaotic world the top of a tree is where I felt secure. 

It took me quite a while before I recognized that God could be my hiding place.  This verse from Psalm 32 was part of a worship song when I was a young Christian, and it lead me to the idea that God could be my hiding place.   Eventually, I was able to transition the memories of peace and security from my youthful tree top experience to the feelings I felt in the presence of God. 

Now, when I find myself troubled, I know where to go.  God has become my refuge, my place to feel secure. I don’t have to look for a tree, which is good since I’m too old to climb one; God is always with me, and he has become my hiding place.